The Australian Open had never seen a queue like it before.
Was Carlos Alcaraz practising out there? Maybe a thriller involving an Aussie? Or was it a food stall dishing out free grub?
But the clamour was to catch a glimpse of Alexandra Eala, the world number 49 from the Philippines.
Thousands of Filipinos descended on Melbourne Park, creating a logjam outside court six and a line that stretched several hundred yards through the grounds.
Eala's pre-tournament news conference was watched online by 171,000 people, dwarfing those of superstars Alcaraz, Coco Gauff (both 29,000) and Aryna Sabalenka (9,000).