Philippines’ Alexandra Eala reacts after losing against Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova their women’s singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
LONDON, United Kingdom — Rising star from the Philippines Alexandra “Alex” Eala was eliminated in the first round in her debut at Wimbledon on Tuesday, but she gave the defending women’s champion Barbora Krejcikova a scare, who had to power back from a set down to beat the Filipina.
The Czech was outplayed in the first set but lost just three more games as she completed a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win on a baking Centre Court.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Krejcikova has endured a difficult time since defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the final last year.
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The 29-year-old was out of action until May after suffering a back injury and lost in the second round of the recent French Open.
Krejcikova pulled out of last week’s Eastbourne Open before the quarter-finals with a thigh problem and had played just six matches this year before Tuesday’s contest against Eala.
“I was in a lot of pain in my back and I didn’t really know how my career was going to go,” she said. “I’m super happy and super excited that I can be here and that I can play on such a great court.”
She added: “I was really, really excited for this day and before the match I was really counting every minute to the time when the match is coming up.
“Then when I walked from the locker room down here in the stands to the ground, it’s just very nice and very special, a special moment.
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“Having that opportunity that I can see my name there and that I can see the trophy.”
Eala, a finalist on the grass at Eastbourne last week, broke Krejcikova twice in the first set to take an early grip on the match, producing a succession of fizzing deep groundstrokes.
The rusty Krejcikova made 19 unforced errors in an untidy display, struggling to find rhythm with her ball toss.
But the 2024 champion quickly gained a foothold in the second set and raced into a 5-0 lead, going on to level the match as she cut her error count drastically.
The world number 16 stayed in the groove in the decider, wrapping up the match with a powerful backhand down the line.
Eala, ranked 56th in the world, in Eastbourne became the first Filipina to reach a WTA final and Krejcikova praised her for her stunning display in the first set.
“Wow, it’s a next generation coming,” she said. “She’s going to come up and she’s going be really good in a couple of years.”
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