Eala’s serve to the world

The highly anticipated debut of Alex Eala at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships was a watershed moment, not just for Philippine tennis but for all of Southeast Asia.

At just 20 years old, Eala entered the main draw and faced off against defending champion Barbora Krejčíková, the world’s No. 17.

Against expectations, she took the first set before the Czech veteran rallied to clinch the match. Eala proved that she was no pushover, as she gave a valiant fight until the end against the defending champion.

More than a compelling match, this was history in motion. As of 30 June 2025, Eala climbed to a career-high ranking of the 56th best women’s tennis player in the world, making her the highest-ranked Filipino ever and breaking into the Top 100 — an unprecedented achievement for our nation.

Moreover, Eala is the second woman from Southeast Asia in the Open Era to make such headway, following Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Her Wimbledon stats speak volumes. In the opening set alone, Eala won 70 percent of her first-serve points, limited unforced errors to eight, and broke Krejcikova’s serve twice — an impressive feat on grass.

Thus, it is a great error for Filipinos to comment negatively about Eala, as it only shows an utter lack of knowledge about the sport of tennis and what Eala has achieved in the past few months.

Her march toward tennis prominence began earlier this year.

At the Eastbourne Open, she became the first-ever Filipino to reach a WTA Tour final, pushing Australia’s Maya Joint to the limit in a dramatic tiebreak before narrowly conceding the title.

Combined with her semifinal run in Miami — where she defeated Grand Slam champions and vaulted into the Top 100 — these milestones cement her status as a rising force.

But Alex’s triumphs echo a broader theme: recent Filipino champions — Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting and Yuka Saso (albeit now elected citizenship with Japan) in golf — have all shone in individual sports, often emerging despite limited local infrastructure.

It is curious to see how our greatest Filipino athletes excel in individual sports. Even if it were a team sport, such as basketball, players gain better options and salaries when playing abroad, where they are forced to play as if they were individual athletes.

Verily, this is the moment for the Philippine government to respond. More than just congratulatory messages, our leaders should take this opportunity to invest in our youth, the future sports stars of our country. From Manila to Mindanao, young Filipinos are waiting for someone to show them: yes, this is possible.

Alex’s Wimbledon run ended in defeat — but not in disappointment. She earned her place in history and showed the world what Filipinos can do.

And at the end, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. offered this rallying cry: “Tuloy ang laban, Alex! … You’ve made us all proud! Keep going, your best is yet to come.” That message isn’t just for her — it’s for the whole nation. Alex Eala’s journey has launched. Now, it’s time for the Philippines to rise, together.