Eala wins ‘for all the girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks’Figure caption, ‘This is everything’ – Eala emotional after making historyByAmy LofthouseBBC Sport senior journalist at WimbledonPublished13 minutes agoThree years ago, Alexandra Eala was presented with her graduation diploma from the Rafael Nadal tennis academy by Iga Swiatek.The Pole was world number one and had just won her third French Open title. She told the players assembled in front of her that she hoped they “would give 100%” to whatever they did in the future.”I hope you will be tenacious,” she stated., external
“I hope no matter what you do in the future years, if you’re going to do it the best way possible, I’m sure you’ll have no regrets at the end.”
Eala took those words to heart.
On Saturday, she produced a brave, crowd-enthralling performance on Wimbledon’s Centre Court to stun defending champion Swiatek 7-6 (11-9) 6-2.
With it, she became the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam in the Open era.
Asked what the victory meant, the 21-year-old replied: “I went to train every day after school with my ruffled socks, light-up shoes and chubby cheeks – to younger me this is everything.
“It is incredible to have my countrymen cheering me on, knowing that we are all in this together.
“This goes out to them, my family and all the girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks. It means the world.”
