Her dream Wimbledon Championships debut may have been cut short, but Alex Eala still walked away with a grateful heart knowing that she did her best against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic in the women’s singles event late Tuesday (Manila time).

The 20-year-old Filipina said she will cherish the experience and use it as a motivation as she moves forward to her professional tennis career.

Against Krejcikova, the tournament’s reigning champion, Eala sizzled early, delivering sharp serves that allowed her to dictate the tempo. Eala, however, struggled in the second and third sets as the taller, more experienced Czech mounted a comeback to seal a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win that sent her to the second round.

Still, it was a mission accomplished for Eala, who said that everything that happened at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club will definitely make her stronger.

“This match is my dream match — my dream debut,” said Eala, who officially became the first Filipino to see action in the main draw of Wimbledon, one of the most prestigious tennis events in the world.

“First Wimbledon main draw in Centre Court against the defending champion. It was such a pleasure for me to share the court with her.”

Krejcikova, the 29-year-old netter who has two Grand Slam crowns under her belt, couldn’t help but to laud Eala for pushing her to the limit.

“I mean I would like to start with giving the credits to Alex. I mean, what the hell she played in the first set. She was smashing the ball and she was cleaning the lines and all that,” Krejcikova, who entered the match nursing a thigh injury, said.

“Wow, it’s the next generation coming. She’s going to come up and she’s going to be really good in a couple of years. Big credit to her.”

Eala said her match against the Czech was an eye-opener on the things she still needs to work on.

“I think even though the second two sets, the scores were quite far, I think I had my chances. I think I did have chances, especially later on in the end, so start of the sets and ends of the sets,” Eala said.

“It’s just that I think she showed her composure, she showed her skill. She stepped up when she needed to in the important moments, and in the end that’s why she got away.”

“I think in the first set I was able to kind of dominate her a little bit in certain moments. In the end I think it was just one break.”