WHEN a reigning Wimbledon champion stops to praise a young challenger after a tough match, it’s more than sportsmanship, it’s a glimpse of tennis’s future.
That’s exactly what Barbora Krejcikova did after surviving a three-set battle against the Philippines’ rising star Alexandra Eala, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, to reach the second round.
But despite the win, it was Eala’s fearless start that stole the spotlight.
“I’d like to start with giving credit to Alex. I mean, what the hell did she play in the first set?” Krejcikova said with a laugh during her post-match interview. “She was smashing the ball. She was cleaning the lines. Wow.”
The 20-year-old Eala came out swinging, taking the opening set with bold shot-making and calm court command that had fans wondering if an upset was in the making.
Krejcikova eventually found her rhythm, leaning on experience and grit to turn the match around. Still, it was clear: Eala had made her mark.
“It’s the next generation coming up,” Krejcikova added. “She’s gonna be really good in a couple of years. Big, big credit to her.”
This season, the young Filipina has beaten three former Grand Slam champs—Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and world No. 1 Iga Świątek—in a breakout Miami run. Just last week, she reached the Eastbourne final after winning six straight matches, narrowly losing in a 12-10 third-set tiebreak.
Eala may not have won the match, but she walked off Centre Court with global respect—and the promise of a bright future.
The Rafa Nadal Academy, where Eala trained and graduated, posted on social media: "Today London has met you, @alex.eala. And it will be a relationship of 💚 for many, many years to come ☺️! VAMOS‼️ MLSA