How ‘special’ Nike gift allowed Alexandra Eala to enjoy ‘dream debut’ at Wimbledon despite first-round exit to Barbora Krecjikova

Eala, 20, has been one of the stories of the 2025 WTA season, shocking Iga Swiatek on her way to the Miami Open semi-finals and making her first final in Eastbourne as a qualifier.

Her first Wimbledon appearance came on Centre Court, and she pushed Krecjikova close, losing 3-6 6-2 6-1.

Eala wore a hair tie for the match featuring the sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines, which was a gift from her sponsor, Nike.

“This is so special for me,” Eala said about the flower.

“First of all, to just have something that reminds me of where I come from, of my country, and my culture out there on court, because I feel like that’s what makes me special, is where I come from.

“Obviously everything else, how I play and my fight, the flower in the hair was an idea of Nike’s. So the flower is the national flower of the Philippines. It’s called the sampaguita.

“Kind of the whole idea behind it is, and I said on my Instagram, it’s kind of you reap what you sow or what’s sown will be reaped.

“That was kind of the whole message was to have something, a piece of home with me on such an iconic court.”

Nike’s gift to Eala included a message which said: “Every dream begins as a seed, and what you plant, you’ll one day reap.

“A Filipina on the grass courts of history. Not just playing for herself, but carrying a nation in full bloom.”

Eala was playing just her second main draw match at a Grand Slam.

“This match is my dream match, my dream debut,” she said.

“First Wimbledon main draw in Centre Court against the defending champion. It was such a pleasure for me to share the court with her.

“Obviously the first impression was amazing, just to be there and to have that experience. Walking onto the court was an amazing feeling. You know, in the end I’m just super happy to have had that as my kind of debut, Wimbledon debut.”

Krejcikova is looking to defend her Wimbledon title after missing the first five months of the season due to injury.

Krejcikova said afterwards that she expects Eala to have a bright future.

“Wow, it’s a next generation coming.

“She’s going to come up and she’s going to be really good in a couple of years. So, first of all, big credit, big credit to her.”