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- Alex Eala opens her 2025 Wimbledon campaign in the first round against defending champion Barbora Krejcikova.
- Fresh from her runner-up finish in the Eastbourne Open, Eala is set to compete in her second Grand Slam women’s singles main draw.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines serves to Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic during their first round women’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala couldn’t translate her strong opening set in her Wimbledon main draw debut after the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova pulled off a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win to advance to the second round.
After a blazing first set comeback, Eala lost steam as Krejcikova, the defending champion of the tournament, dominated the last two sets.
“I would like to start with giving the credits to Alex. She was smashing the ball and she was cleaning the lines and all that, so, wow,” said Krejcikova during her on-court interview.
Barbora Krejcikova praises Alexandra Eala after their three-set battle in the first round of #Wimbledon. | 📽️: Wimbledon
Follow live updates here: pic.twitter.com/pmkoNWx1oj
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 1, 2025
LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Barbora Krejcikova – Wimbledon first round
Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic, right, greets Alexandra Eala of the Philippines at the net after winning their first round women’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
- Alex Eala falls to defending champion Barbora Krejcikova in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, in the Wimbledon.
- Krejcikova inches a game closer to a first-round win after surviving Eala in Game 7 for a 5-1 lead.
- Krejcikova denies Alex Eala from another comeback as she takes a 4-1 advantage.
- Alex Eala holds serve to score a game in the decider. She trails Krejcikova, 1-3.
- Everything going Krejcikova’s away, winning 9 of the last 11 games since the opening set. She leads 3-0 in Set 3.
- Krejcikova up by 2-0 in the deciding third set.
- Krejcikova takes the first game in the decider vs Alex Eala, 1-0.
- Krejcikova forces a decider after a 6-2 win over Alex Eala in the second set.
- Alex Eala takes another one after a forehand winner. She’s trailing, 2-5.
- Alex Eala holds serve and avoids a bagel. Krejcikova still ahead 5-1.
- Krejcikova escapes Alex Eala in a tight fourth game for a 4-0 spread in Set 2.
- Krejcikova overcomes another difficult service game to take a 3-0 advantage in Set 2.
- Krejcikova wins another game to go up 2-0 in Set 2. She’s looking to force a decider in the opener of her title defense.
- Easy first game win for Krejcikova in Set 2. 1-0.
Alex Eala takes the opening set with a 6-3 win over Barbora Krejcikova, moving closer to her first-ever women’s Grand Slam singles victory. #Wimbledon | 📸: AP via @LanceAgcaoilINQ
Follow live updates here: pic.twitter.com/F5OIqAfdfK
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 1, 2025
- Alex Eala takes the first set, 6-3, against Krejcikova, the defending champion. She’s one set away from her first ever singles Grand Slam win.
- Krejcikova hangs on after a grueling eight game to pull within 3-5.
- Four straight games for Alex Eala! She leads 5-2. One more game for the set.
- Eala breaks Krejcikova to lead 4-2. 3 straight game wins for the Filipino.
- Alex Eala holds servce and takes the lead again, 3-2! Error filled game for Krejcikova.
- Alex Eala wins the fourth game to tie the set at 2-2.
- Krejcikova with an early break to take the lead for the first time, 2-1, the opening set.
- Barbora Krejcikova pulls even, 1-1, in Set 1.
- Alex Eala draws first blood against Krejcikova, winning the opening game, 1-0.
Our defending Ladies’ Singles Champion steps back onto Centre Court to start her 2025 #Wimbledon campaign 🌱
Barbora Krejcikova vs Alexandra Eala pic.twitter.com/tJ3IiVJGTt
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
Ready to begin her title defence 💪
2024 Ladies’ Singles Champion Barbora Krejcikova faces Alexandra Eala in today’s first match on Centre Court ➡️#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/KQMjT37Xz5
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
So then, who’s ready for Day Two? 🙋♀️
Tap the card below to see the full Order of Play for today ⬇️
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
SCHEDULE: Alex Eala at the Wimbledon
July 1, Tuesday – First Round (Centre Court)
- 8:30pm – Alex Eala vs Barbora Krejcikova
Where and how to watch Alex Eala at Wimbledon
Alex Eala’s matches in the Wimbledon 2025 championships will air on SPOTV in the Philippines, according to Wimbledon.
- On SkyCable: Manila Ch 31, 32, HD 253, 254; Regional Ch 304, 305, HD 758, 759. On Cignal: Ch 274, 275.
In the United States, ESPN/ABC offer live coverage while the Tennis Channel provides match re-airing.
Inquirer Sports will be providing updates throughout Eala’s campaign via its website, and social media accounts on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Tennis – Eastbourne Open – Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain – June 25, 2025 – Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova in action during her round of 16 match against Britain’s Jodie Burrage Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Barbora Krejcikova insists she is fit for her Wimbledon title defense after the Czech suffered a thigh injury scare just days before the tournament.
Krejcikova’s Wimbledon participation was plunged into doubt when she pulled out of the warm-up event at Eastbourne on Thursday.
The 29-year-old withdrew before playing Varvara Gracheva in the quarterfinals after initially sustaining the injury on Wednesday during her second-round victory over Jodie Burrage.
Alex Eala reacts after winning a point to Varvara Gracheva during the women’s singles semi-final match of the Eastbourne Tennis Open tournament, at Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, England, Friday June 27, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
LONDON—Alex Eala can expect a really hot welcome at Wimbledon.
The tournament was preparing for the possibility of record-breaking Day 1 heat as the oldest Grand Slam tournament got started on Monday.
The temperature shortly before play was scheduled to begin in the first matches at 11 a.m. local time was 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 Celsius)—not yet quite reaching the 85 F (29.3 C) measured during the first day of the 2001 fortnight.
“I’ll spend the whole day going from one shady spot to another,” said Sally Bolton, the chief executive officer of the All England Club.
Alex Eala tries to gather herself before an emotional speech. —AP
As Alex Eala puts behind the pain of what she said was one of the toughest losses of her career, Rafa Nadal has gone public to air his support and make it known of what he believes is coming for the hard-fighting pride of the Philippines.
“The first final of many finals, [Alex Eala],” Nadal wrote on X with an applause emoji, as the 22-time Grand Slam champ who recently retired praised the product of his academy who went down to Maya Joint of Australia, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(10), in the Lexus Eastbourne Open in the United Kingdom on Sunday morning in Manila.
Nadal posted the comment after Eala cried a river in accepting the second-place trophy before a packed gallery that stayed on its feet throughout her speech.
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