Alexandra Eala Reveals She Grew Up Playing on Half-Basketball, Half-Tennis Court After Scripting History at Wimbledon

Alexandra Eala, born in the Philippines, did not have the option of playing on grass courts. The court where she used to practice, as per her admission, was a half-basketball and a half-tennis court.

And now, the 21-year-old, as a Filipino, scripted history at Wimbledon. On Saturday (July 4), she upset defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (9), 6-2 in the third round to become the first player, man or woman, in the Open Era to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam tournament.

I don’t think there were any [grass courts] to my knowledge. No, I did not grow up on grass in the Philippines. I grew up on a court where a basketball court was painted over the tennis court.  There would be the basketball hoops. I couldn’t really step back a lot because then I would hit the basketball hoop.

Alexandra Eala said at the press conference

The win helped Eala improve her head-to-head record over the six-time Grand Slam champion to 2-1. Prior to Wimbledon, Eala met Swiatek twice last year, in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open (Eala won) and the second round of the Madrid Open.

Tennis courts in question pic.twitter.com/753xNlpMzf

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Eala will next be up against two-time Grand Slam singles finalist Jasmine Paolini, against whom she holds a 1-0 head-to-head record. Before this tournament, the only time Eala reached the second round of a Major was in last year’s US Open.

Eala has not yet won a title in her career, but she has played in one final. She reached the title clash of last year’s Eastbourne International and lost the match to Maya Joint, whom she defeated in the second round of the ongoing tournament.

Iga Swiatek reveals the difference between her defeat to Marta Kostyuk and Alexandra Eala

Before this Wimbledon, Iga Swiatek also suffered an early-round exit at the French Open. In the third round, Marta Kostyuk clinched a straight-set win over the former World No.1. Swiatek, at the press conference after her Wimbledon upset, talked about the differences between her French Open and Wimbledon defeats.

I don’t think it’s the same as in Paris. In Paris, it was definitely about me not handling the pressure well. Today, I wanted to be calmer and play some shots within. I was missing half of these returns. I lost many points. For me, today was more about tennis. I’m also happy with how I came back in the tiebreak and also after going down a break in the first set, because I feel in Paris I would have just lost it straight away.

Swiatek last won a Major title at last year’s grass-court Major by double-bageling Amanda Anisimova. It was also her career’s first grass-court title in the second final on the surface. She last won a singles title at the 2025 Korea Open.

I could have played a bit better for sure, but she also played very well and capitalized on her chances. In the tiebreak, I remember when it was tight, I remember I slowed down a bit, but she was brave enough to play a bit faster. You have to be brave at Wimbledon to win those points. But I must say it was challenging to balance the pace I have, which has cost me some matches this year, because I was playing too fast without being solid.

Iga Swiatek added

This year, she has not yet played a final, and, in fact, has reached just one semifinal (at the Italian Open). Next, Swiatek will be preparing for the North American hardcourt swing, where last year she won the Cincinnati Open by defeating Jasmine Paolini.

Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Lauds Naomi Osaka’s Kill Bill-Inspired Kimono Outfit Ahead of Wimbledon Clash: “I Really Love Her Dress”