Alexandra Eala suffered a narrow defeat in the final of the Eastbourne Open on Saturday, June 28, marking her first-ever WTA Tour final appearance. Despite the loss, the 20-year-old Filipino player received warm messages of encouragement from her mentor Rafael Nadal and doubles partner Coco Gauff, showing strong support after her impressive run.
Earlier this year, Eala drew attention with a breakthrough performance at the Miami Open, where she advanced to the semifinals by defeating top-tier opponents including Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek. After a brief period of quieter results, she returned to form during the grass-court season in Eastbourne.
Starting from the qualifying rounds, Eala earned significant victories against players like Ostapenko and Dayana Yastremska to secure a spot in the final. She faced Australia’s Maya Joint in a thrilling match, which ended 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(10) in Joint’s favor after a tense deciding tie-break.
Rafael Nadal and Coco Gauff Express Support for Eala
Rafael Nadal, whose tennis academy in Mallorca, Spain, Alexandra Eala joined in 2018 and graduated from in 2023, posted messages on X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge her achievement and encourage her moving forward. Nadal had previously congratulated Eala in anticipation of the final and continued his support after the match.
Coco Gauff also showed her backing by commenting on Eala’s Instagram post, writing:
“Congratulations,” accompanied by a heart emoji.
Gauff and Eala partnered in doubles for the first time earlier this year at the Italian Open, making a promising start by reaching the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani. Their collaboration has been a positive development for both players.
Eala Shares Emotional Reflections Following the Loss
After the tense match against Maya Joint, Eala was visibly emotional and struggled to hold back tears. She quickly composed herself and delivered a sincere speech expressing her feelings about reaching her first WTA final.
“First of all, I want to congratulate Maya [Joint], on a great match and a great tournament. You did really well, and I think if I were to lose to anyone this week, it would definitely be you, so congratulations,” she said.
She continued by highlighting the importance of the moment for herself and the Philippines:
“It’s my first WTA final. It’s a big deal for me and for my country too. It’s historic, it’s the first time any Filipino has done anything. I guess that’s also why I’m so emotional, but you know it’s only the first. I’ll definitely work hard to do more.”
Next Challenge Awaits at Wimbledon
Looking ahead, Alexandra Eala will prepare for Wimbledon, where she faces a challenging opening match against the defending champion Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday, July 1. This next step represents another opportunity for Eala to showcase her growing talent on a global stage while building on the experience gained in Eastbourne.
The support from Rafael Nadal and Coco Gauff highlights the strong network around Eala as she continues her promising professional journey, carrying the hopes of Filipino tennis fans and inspiring upcoming players from her country.