By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala put up a gallant stand against Czech defending champion Barbora Krejcikova before yielding, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, in the opening round of the Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday, July 1.
Playing on Centre Court before a packed crowd that included Hollywood A-listers, Eala came out smoking, producing a series of booming shots to dominate the opening frame.
And for a while the lefty Eala appeared headed to claiming the scalp of another giant but Krejcikova found her rhythm just in time and staged a furious comeback that saw her force the Filipina ace to commit costly errors.
Still, Eala managed to thrill the crowd by coming through with a couple of drop shots and several sizzling returns.
Despite the loss, it was a commendable performance from the 20-year-old Filipina tennis star, who had little time to recover after her runner-up finish at the Lexus Eastbourne Open over the weekend.
Eala initially trailed 2-1 in the opening set but caught Krejcikova off guard in the fourth game, breaking the Czech’s serve to seize the momentum. The Filipina then won the next three games to build a 5-2 lead.
Krejcikova then held serve in the eighth game after six deuces to stay alive, but Eala closed out the set soon after.
The Czech veteran, however, bounced back with a vengeance in the second frame, dictating the pace with clinical shot-making en route to a commanding 5-1 advantage.
Eala refused to back down, breaking Krejcikova’s serve with sharp backhand winners to trim the deficit to 5-2. But the reigning champion quickly regained control to take the second set and force a decider.
Krejcikova further ramped up her aggression in the third set, varying her shots and keeping Eala on the defensive despite the Filipina’s spirited resistance.
“I’m just really enjoying the moment. I was excited for this day,” Krejcikova said after the win. “Before the match, I was counting every minute. Walking from the locker room to Centre Court was a very special moment, and I’m really happy I could experience it.”
As for Eala, the future remains bright as this Wimbledon appearance marked only her second main draw showing at a Grand Slam event. She made her debut at the French Open last May, where she also exited in the first round.
With her steady rise in the rankings — currently at a career-high No. 56 — she continues to establish herself as one of the most promising young talents on the WTA Tour.
