Eala out sa Wimby, pero angat sa standing ovation

by Gerard Arce @Sports News | July \8, 2026

 Photo: IG / Alex Eala

Itinuturing na panimulang ningning sa pag-angat sa pandaigdigang kompetisyon ni Filipina tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala ang nakuhang tagumpay sa  2026 Wimbledon Championship, kasunod ng 4th-round exit kontra Italian tennister at World No. 17 na si Jasmine Paolini sa iskor na 4-6, 6-4, 3-6 na ginanap sa All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) sa Wimbledon, London.

Tuloy ang pagsikat ng 21-anyos na Pinay champion nang maging unang Pinoy na pumasok sa 4th round ng Grand Slam grass tournament na tumanggap ng standing ovation sa fans na nagawang pataubin ang mga dekalibre at mataas na ranggo sa World Tennis Association (WTA) tulad nina Mexican Renata Zarazua sa first round, Maya Joint ng Australia sa 2nd round at World No.3 Iga Swiatek ng Poland sa round-of-32.

Sa pagtatapos ng kampanya nakatuon ang pansin ni Eala sa hard court tourney, kung saan haharapin ang mga bigating katunggali sa huling Grand Slam tourney na US Open sa Agosto 23-Set. 13 sa USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center sa Queens, New York. 

“I think this week in general will add to my confidence. I mean, if this week doesn’t… It’s been one of my best results, right? Of course, it will add confidence. I think it’s important that in every match I played this week and every match that I play, I go in with self-esteem and the thought that I’m able to win. I don’t think that, necessarily, because of one week or the other, that will change,” pahayag ni Eala.

“Of course, there are things that I would have liked to do differently. But in the end, I think that’s just tennis. That’s also what’s beautiful about tennis, is that every match, it’s different in a sense. You’re always finding solutions, the opponent is always finding ways to make you uncomfortable,” eksplika ng tubong Quezon City.