Alex Eala after Wimbledon exit: 'Couldn't have asked for a better debut'
Despite her early exit at Wimbledon, Alex Eala was still living her dream.
The 20-year-old Filipina took to Instagram to reflect on her Centre Court debut on July 1 against reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova in the opening round.
"Realized something funny yesterday—when you're living your dream, it doesn't feel real," she wrote. "Couldn't have asked for a better debut."
"That match was special in more ways than one—to be able to fulfill a childhood dream and be part of something bigger than myself, history for my country."
Eala, the world's no. 56, is the first Filipino tennis player to compete in Wimbledon. She won one set against the 29-year-old Czech but failed to clinch the other two, finishing with 6-3, 2-6, and 1-6.
In a post-match interview with ABS-CBN News, the Filipina tennis sensation had nothing but praise for Krejcikova.
"In the next two sets, Barbora really stepped up. She was hitting so close to the lines, and she did it consistently. Maybe I wasn't able to make her uncomfortable enough—but also, she's just that skillful," she said.
"Give credit where credit is due."
Krejcikova, the world's no. 16, was also acknowledged that Eala put up quite the fight.
"What the hell, she played in the first set? She was smashing the ball and cleaning the lines and all that. Wow. It's the next generation coming... She's gonna be really good in a couple of years. Big credit to her."
While Eala's Wimbledon singles campaign has ended, she's set to return to the court for the women's doubles with Germany's Eva Lys, the world's no. 61.
Their match against US' Quinn Gleason and Brazil's Ingrid Martins is set for July 3.
