Alex Eala falls short in Wimbledon bid, loses to world No. 123

Photo from alex.eala/Instagram

Another one win away from making history in the international lawn tennis scene but Filipino tennis prodigy Alex Eala could not forge through the main draw event once again.

The Filipina tennis sensation’s quest for a historic Wimbledon main draw appearance remains elusive. On June 27 (PST), Eala faced a tough battle against New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, ultimately falling a hard fought 7-6(3), 7-5.

19-year-old Eala demonstrated determination and skill throughout the match, but the world No. 123 and 23rd seed matched her effort every step of the way.

Eala was on the verge of taking the first set with a 5-2 lead, but Sun managed to force a tiebreak. Sun’s dominance during the tiebreak was evident as she took an early 6-1 lead and never looked back. In the second set, the Rafa Nadal Academy student struggled with unforced errors, allowing Sun to gain a crucial 6-5 advantage and eventually won.

The match, which lasted one hour and 40 minutes, ended when Eala committed a forehand unforced error, sealing her defeat and Sun’s spot in the main draw of Wimbledon.

Despite this setback, Eala showcased her talent and tenacity in previous rounds. She defeated Jessika Ponchet of France, 7-6, 6-4, in the first qualifying round and staged a remarkable comeback against Tamara Zidanšek of Slovenia, 1-6, 7-6, 6-3, in the second qualifying round.

Earlier this year, Eala narrowly missed similar opportunities, such as the French Open main draw on her birthday, underscoring her resilience and growing prowess on the court. In May, she achieved a career-high world ranking of 157th, a testament to her consistent progress and performance.

Eala’s recent achievements further highlight her promising potential. She reached the quarterfinals at the WTA 125 Veneto Open, defeating Italy’s Giorgia Pedone in straight sets. Additionally, she claimed a doubles title at the ITF W50 Pune in India, partnering with singles rival turned doubles partner Darja Semenistaja of Latvia.