Alex Eala shows grit in Wimbledon debut but falls short vs. defending champ Krejcikova

Alex Eala made quite the impression in her Centre Court debut, but her early momentum waned against defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic, who triumphed 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the 2025 Wimbledon women's singles first round on Tuesday. 

This was the historic main draw debut for the world no. 56 Filipina tennis sensation, who was just coming off another heartbreaking finals loss in the Eastbourne Open. 

Krejcikova, the world no. 16 WTA player and the reigning Wimbledon titleholder, kept her bid for back-to-back crowns alive as she advanced to the next round.

Eala got off to a blazing start, capitalizing on error-plagued Krejcikova in Set 1 to establish a 5-2 lead. But the Czech bet fought back next game, braving through six deuces to cut the deficit to two, 5-3. 

The 20-year-old Eala, though, made a statement in the next game to secure the opening set over her 29-year-old foe. 

Krejcikova, however, vented her frustrations in Set 2, building a massive 5-0 lead over the Filipina ace, who would then threaten a comeback by winning back-to-back games. But an attack error from Eala allowed Krejcikova to even out the match at one set apiece. 

Krejcikova opened Set 3 the same way she did the set prior, cruising to a 4-1 start. Eala had momentum early in the next game but three costly errors from the Philippine bet saw Krejcikova taking the match point at 5-1. 

Krejcikova dominated Eala in the final game to take the hard-fought win. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News