Eala misses pre-Wimby date with history

Alex Eala came within a heartbeat of history — only to see it slip through her fingers in the cruelest of ways.

The 20-year-old Filipina tennis star fought tooth and nail in the final of the Eastbourne Open, ultimately bowing to Australia’s Maya Joint, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (12-10), in a two-hour-and-26-minute war of attrition that pushed both players to their limits.

In the end, Eala graciously admitted she had lost to the better player before a packed crowd at Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in the United Kingdom.

Four championship points separated Eala from her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) crown. Four missed chances to rewrite the record books and carve her name into tennis history as the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour event.

And yet, as the tiebreak reached 10-all, fate turned its back. Joint, just 19, delivered the final blows — two consecutive points that shattered Eala’s dream and crowned the Australian the new queen of Eastbourne.

The pain was raw. Tears welled in Eala’s eyes as she approached the microphone. But there, under the cloudy English sky, she found strength in what the run meant — not just for her, but for an entire nation hungry for sporting heroes.

“It’s a big deal for me and for my country too, because it’s historic,” Eala said, trying to steady her voice. “It’s the first time any Filipina has done anything (of this magnitude), and I guess that’s also why I’m so emotional.”

“It’s only the first. I’ll definitely work hard to do more in Wimbledon this next week, so hopefully I’ll forget about this match soon.”

Her opponent, gracious in victory, paid tribute to the warrior on the other side of the net.

“Alex, first of all, great week. We’ll definitely play in many more finals,” Joint said. “You’ve been having such an amazing year, so great job to you and your team, and all the best of luck for next week and the rest of the year.”

It was no ordinary run to the final. Eala clawed her way up from the qualifying rounds, where she dispatched Turkey’s Zeynep Sönmez in straight sets, then survived a grueling three-setter against American Hailey Baptiste.

Once in the main draw, Eala crushed Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti with a ruthless 6-0, 6-1 demolition in the Round of 32. Then came a twist of fortune: French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko retired mid-match due to a twisted ankle, giving Eala a free pass to the quarterfinals.

But make no mistake: Eala earned her place. She demolished Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, 6-1, 6-2, then outlasted France’s Varvara Gracheva in a semifinal thriller, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, becoming the first Filipino ever to reach a WTA final.

Though the title eluded her, the $30,380 (P1.7 million) in prize money was little more than a token beside the honor she carried for her country.

It wasn’t the first time Eala brushed shoulders with greatness. Back in March at the Miami Open, she stunned the tennis world by taking down Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, and Jelena Ostapenko en route to a semifinal finish.

The Eastbourne Open marked Eala’s fourth grass-court tournament of the year — a prelude to what awaits her on the sport’s grandest lawn: Wimbledon. After competing in Birmingham, Ilkley, and Nottingham, she had finally found her footing on grass.

“I think more than anything, it’s just the mentality,” Eala reflected. “Of course, with these great players and tough conditions, it could be hard to balance that patience and the will to go for the ball, so I think I did that well throughout the whole week.”

“I’m only 20, but it’s a long road already, although it’s only the start of my career. I have a lot of experience getting to know myself, so I think that’s a big part of how I handle myself on court.”

Now, she heads to the All England Club, eyes firmly set on Wimbledon — her second Grand Slam as a pro. But the draw offers no consolation. Waiting for her in the first round is none other than defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.