Alex can only get better

Alex Eala didn’t make it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year but advancing to the Round of 16 was a feat no other Filipina has done so she’s left an imprint on the record books. The swashbuckling wins that led to a fourth round finish were amazing and dethroning World No. 3 Iga Swiatek had to be a highlight on center court.

There’s no doubt Eala is the new darling of the tennis world. The highlights of her match against Swiatek drew over 1.2 million views on Wimbledon’s YouTube channel, more than double the numbers of Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams. It’s not just her feisty and courageous demeanor on the court that’s captivating global audiences but also her remarks from the heart when interviewed. Eala doesn’t hide the fact that her journey is a personal mission, something that she’s worked so hard to navigate. But at the same time, she’s competing to bring honor to her country and inspiration to Filipinos all over the world. Eala’s authenticity reverberates and it’s reflective of a supportive upbringing showered with love. Wherever she plays, her parents are in the stands, watching, praying and admiring a daughter who has become a national treasure at 21.

Against Swiatek, Eala was impeccable in carving out a 7-6, 6-2 win. In the first set, she battled back to win the tiebreak, 11-9 then took off like a rocket in the second to leave the Polish defending champion in tatters. Eala did it without a double fault and used a slow, soft serve to unnerve Swiatek who failed to adjust to the tempo. With Swiatek unable to hammer the ball consistently, Eala put her on the defensive by throwing low-rising flat shots and varying her points of attack from the baseline to the deep corners, to sharp cross-court angles, to nifty drops, to looping lobs and to thundering volleys. Swiatek’s inability to control the pace allowed Eala to cover the expanse of the court with her quickness.

The fourth round match against Jasmine Paolini was a classic. Eala had beaten the 30-year-old Italian, once World No. 4, in straight sets in Dubai last February but this time, things were different. The top players are no longer taking Eala lightly and there’s a huge target on her back. Paolini came prepared to deal with Eala’s serve and played her tit-for-tat. Eala lost the first set, bounced back to take the second and faltered in the third as the more experienced Paolini, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, proved steadier in the trenches. They had fierce exchanges and neither refused to blink until the end. It took just one service break for Paolini to seize the advantage and she held in the ninth game of the third set to clinch, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Eala’s first serve clearance was a low 56 percent and she could convert only 53 percent of her second serves. While Paolini had 42 unforced errors, she compensated with 38 winners compared to Eala’s 25. Clearly, Eala has to work on her serves to be a consistent threat but she’s getting there. Her instinct to move where the ball is, conditioning, tactics, court coverage, aggressiveness and composure are showing major signs of improvement from last year. The Wimbledon experience can only make Eala better.