Alexandra Eala’s dream run blooms at Wimbledon as she makes history for Philippines
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Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates after winning her Wimbledon second-round match against Australian Maya Joint on July 2.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Alexandra Eala made history as the first Filipino to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon, defeating Australia’s Maya Joint.
- She will face defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round.
- She continues to rise in tennis, breaking into the top 50 in 2025 and excelling on grass courts with recent titles and semi-final appearances.
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LONDON – Etched on to the back of Alexandra Eala’s sun visor at Wimbledon on July 2 was a phrase in Tagalog that roughly translates as “Once it grows, it cannot be stopped”.
Those words proved prophetic as she stormed back against Maya Joint, Serena Williams’ first-round conqueror, to become the first player from the Philippines to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era.
The 29th seed will face defending champion Iga Swiatek on July 4, but the way she recovered from a slow start to beat Australian Joint 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 offers some hope against the Polish six-time Grand Slam champion.
“I think it’s going to be tough for me. I’m going to try to make it tough for her, as well,” the 21-year-old from Quezon City told reporters after breaking more ground for her nation.
“I’m expecting a great challenge. But I think I’m ready for it.”
Eala, who is contesting only her sixth Grand Slam, said she was proud of her heritage and that her sponsor Nike had worked with her to have the slogan “Kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto” imprinted on some of her kit.
For her Wimbledon debut in 2025, Nike supplied her with a custom hair tie adorned with a single sampaguita – the national flower of the Philippines.
“It’s so sentimental to be able to wear things or I guess to carry parts of my culture with me on court,” added Eala, who trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
“It’s a huge reason as to who I am. I think where I come from is a big part of who I am and a big part of who I want to become in the future.
“For me to be able to represent the Philippines in Wimbledon and in the biggest stages in the world, it means so much to me.”
She broke into the top 50 in 2025 and has continued on an upwards trajectory in 2026 and seems particularly comfortable on grass, winning the title in Birmingham in June and reaching the semi-finals in Berlin.
She is the only player from the Philippines in the main draw at Wimbledon but is flying the flag with pride.
Fans in the stands with the flag of the Philippines in support of Alexandra Eala during her second-round match against Australia's Maya Joint.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“It sounds super impactful when you say it like that,” she said, when told of her milestone moment for Philippines tennis.
“It’s an amazing thing for me to be able to do that for my country. But I guess it’s also very emotional every time I’m able to pass a new step or break new ground, just because it’s also personal goals and personal achievements.”
In the men’s draw on July 3, Novak Djokovic beat French 25th-seed Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) to earn his latest slice of Wimbledon history with a third-round win.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion secured his 105th match win at the All England Club to equal Roger Federer’s all-time record in men’s singles. Martina Navratilova (120) is now the only player to have won more singles matches at Wimbledon than Djokovic.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner’s title defence gathered pace on July 3 as the world No. 1 swept aside American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, Japan’s Naomi Osaka ended her long wait to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time with a 6-1, 6-3 win against Australian Daria Kasatkina. REUTERS, AFP
