Alex Eala makes Grand Slam history for Philippines at Wimbledon
· Yahoo Sports
Alexandra Eala has reached the third round of the women's singles at Wimbledon, the furthest any player from the Philippines has gone in a Grand Slam tournament.
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The 21-year-old has electrified fans back home and renewed interest in the sport in what is otherwise a boxing and basketball-crazed country.
The 29th seed, who is fresh off her win against Australia's Maya Joint, will face defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland on Saturday
"For me to be able to represent the Philippines in Wimbledon, I guess, and in the biggest stages in the world, it means so much to me," Eala told reporters after her second-round victory.
"I have been working extremely hard. My team has been working extremely hard. I really feel that it's paying off. This win means a lot," she said.
During her Wimbledon run, Eala wore a white sun visor from sponsor Nike etched with a Tagalog phrase that translates to "once it grows, it cannot be stopped".
She had also worn a hair tie with a white ornament shaped like the sampaguita or Philippine jasmine, in honour of her roots.
"It's a huge reason as to who I am. I think where I come from is a big part of who I am and a big part of who I want to become in the future," she said, according to a Reuters report.
"It's an amazing thing for me to be able to do that for my country, but I guess it's also very emotional every time I'm able to pass a new step or break new ground, just because it's also personal goals and personal achievements."
Tennis is a niche sport in the Philippines, where boxing and basketball are extremely popular. [Reuters]Eala has been steadily going up the Women's Tennis Association rankings over the years.
She trained in Spain at the eponymous tennis academy of her idol, Rafael Nadal.
But it was her victory over former world number one Swiatek in the Miami Open quarterfinals last year that catapulted her to fame.
Eala's matches have attracted viewing parties and mainstream media coverage in the Philippines - a country where tennis is not a popular sport.
Instead, sporting events like boxing and basketball typically command huge followings. But victories like Eala's have brought the sport to the fore.
In January the country hosted the first ever Philippine Open, a WTA event.
"Thank you for putting my first love tennis on the map and inspiring us all," author and former Miss World finalist Mafae Yunon-Belasco said in a comment on Eala's Instagram post.
"I am crying with jubilation. Thank you, Lord God, this is for the Philippines' pride," another comment read.
On Saturday, Filipinos fans will tune in to see whether Eala can beat the defending champion Swiatek and keep her Wimbledon dream alive.
"I think it's going to be tough for me. I'm going to try to make it tough for her, as well," Eala said.
"I'm expecting a great challenge. But I think I'm ready for it."