"A WTA trophy! Thank you everyone for the love. Though I’m so happy with the positive week, it’s full speed ahead to @wimbledon," Alexandra Eala wrote on Instagram.
Doha, Qatar: As the first player from the Philippines to reach a WTA Tour final, Alexandra Eala has brought the Philippines to the global stage of tennis.
Eala has officially jumped to no. 56 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, 18 places higher than her previous career-high of No. 74 that she carried into the Eastbourne Open in the UK on Friday, June 27.
And despite her heart-breaking loss in the tournament's singles finals on Saturday to Maya Joint of Australia, Filipinos worldwide hailed Eala as a symbol of national pride, saying her performance represented not just an individual achievement, but a collective victory for the country.
The 20-year-old said the loss at the hands of Joint was "one of the toughest losses" of her early career. In a post on Instagram, she wrote:
"A WTA trophy! Thank you everyone for the love. This has to be one of the toughest losses of my early career, but I firmly believe that it’s these moments that make you stronger and shape your character. Though I’m so happy with the positive week, it’s full speed ahead to @wimbledon."
As of this writing, her post has garnered more than 108,000 likes and hundreds of congratulatory messages from her fans and supporters.
Philippines' Alexandra Eala sheds a tear at the presentation ceremony after her defeat to Australia's Maya Joint in their women's singles final tennis match on day six of the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also cheered Eala on their messages on the X platform:
“We’re already so proud, Alex. Just play your game and enjoy every moment. The whole Philippines is behind you. LABAN!” wrote President Marcos.
First Lady Marcos said: "You fought with everything you had – and for that, we are so incredibly proud... Thank you for showing us what true sportsmanship is like and for inspiring every young to chase big dreams. Mabuhay ka, Alex! We’re so proud of you!”
Philippines' Alexandra Eala returns to Australia's Maya Joint during their women's singles final tennis match on day six of the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
On Tuesday, July 1, Eala is due to face reigning champion and world No. 17 Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in the opening round of Wimbledon.
During the on-court trophy presentation on Saturday, tearful Eala said she will definitely work hard to do more: "This is my first WTA final, it's a big deal for me and for my country too because it's historic. I guess that's also why I'm so emotional."
"Wimbledon is next week, so hopefully, I’ll forget about this match," she said in her post-match speech.
In an interview at the All England Club today, June 29, Eala said that she's "been feeling every day a little bit better"
"I hope by Tuesday everything is going to be fine. I hope I'm going to have a nice match and a great tournament."
If successful against Krejcikova, the left-hander tennis sensation would face the winner between US's Caroline Colehide and Netherlands' Arantxa Rus.
