Alexandra Eala has reached the third round of the women’s singles at Wimbledon, the furthest any player from the Philippines has gone in a Grand Slam tournament.
The 21-year-old has electrified fans back home and renewed interest in the sport in what is otherwise a boxing and basketball-crazed country.
The 29th seed, who is fresh off her win against Australia’s Maya Joint, will face defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland on Saturday
“For me to be able to represent the Philippines in Wimbledon, I guess, and in the biggest stages in the world, it means so much to me,” Eala told reporters after her second-round victory.
“I have been working extremely hard. My team has been working extremely hard. I really feel that it’s paying off. This win means a lot,” she said.
During her Wimbledon run, Eala wore a white sun visor from sponsor Nike etched with a Tagalog phrase that translates to “once it grows, it cannot be stopped”.
She had also worn a hair tie with a white ornament shaped like the sampaguita or Philippine jasmine, in honour of her roots.
“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,” she said, according to a Reuters report.
“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.”
