Alex Eala's historic Wimbledon run thrills boxing-obsessed Philippines

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.

The 21-year-old's matches have attracted viewing parties and mainstream media coverage in the Philippines - a country obsessed with boxing and basketball.

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Eala's former Wimbledon doubles partner, Venus Williams congratulated her for making "history" and earlier, Filipino world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said he was "so proud" of Eala, encouraging her to "keep it up".

On Saturday, Filipino fans will tune in to see whether she can beat defending champion Iga Swiatek and keep her Wimbledon dream alive.

Eala has beaten Swiatek before.

"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," said the 29th seed, who is fresh off her win against Australia's Maya Joint.

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"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.

Fans have been ecstatic.

"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," read a comment on social media.

During her Wimbledon run, Eala has been wearing a white sun visor from sponsor Nike etched with a Tagalog phrase that translates to "once it grows, it cannot be stopped".

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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."

Eala has been steadily going up the Women's Tennis Association rankings over the years.

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She trained in Spain at the eponymous tennis academy of her idol, Rafael Nadal.

In 2022, she became the first to win a junior Grand Slam title with her US Open triumph, leading to the then-teenager gracing the cover of Vogue back home.

But it was her victory over former world number one Swiatek in the Miami Open quarterfinals last year that really catapulted her to fame.

And as she has progressed in her tennis career, so has the popularity of the sport in the country.

In January, thousands of Filipinos descended on Melbourne Park during the Australian Open, hoping to watch her practice, creating a logjam outside court six and a line that stretched several hundred yards through the grounds.

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In January the country hosted the first ever Philippine Open, a WTA event.

Eala has attracted Filipino fans to Wimbledon where they have been waving red, yellow and blue national flags.

Some have also been injecting Filipino humour. One sign red "Do it for the kare-kare" - a rich Filipino ox tail and peanut stew that Eala had mentioned in a viral TikTok video.

Eala acknolwedged her countrymen in the bleachers in an on-court interview after she beat Australia's Joint.

"It's absolutely incredible. Maraming, maraming salamat." That's Tagalog for thank you very, very much.

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