Alex Eala was gifted a sampaguita hair tie, along with a Filipino saying that's close to home, as she takes the grass courts in Wimbledon for her pro debut on July 1.
Filipino pride will be on full display for Philippine tennister Alex Eala in Wimbledon as a popular sports brand gifted her an accessory to wear on the court, when she faces defending champion Barbora Krejcíková in her pro debut in the main draw of the Grand Slam on Tuesday.
Eala, who is coming off of a finals appearance at Eastbourne, was given a white hair tie featuring the Philippines’ national flower sampaguita as an ode to her roots, which she proudly represents on the WTA Tour.
She recently cemented her stake as the greatest Filipina to ever play the sport as she became the first-ever Filipina to reach a WTA final. She is also the highest-ranked Filipina of all time in the rankings — currently World No. 56.
Nike, Eala’s outfitter, gave the hair tie as a symbol of her unending perseverance on the court.
"The sampaguita: delicate, radiant, resilient, is more than the Philippines' national flower. It's strength. It's belief. It's home. And today, you carry it with you," the company wrote in a message written in a card inside the box. "Every dream begins as a seed. 'Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.' And what you plant, you'll one day reap."
"Over the last decade, you've planted it all--the hours, the grind, the quiet resolve. And now, here you are, a Filipina on the grass courts of history. Not just playing for herself, but carrying a nation in full bloom. All yours."
This was recently displayed in her heart stopping finals match against Maya Joint in Eastbourne, where the two engaged in a back-and-forth affair that concluded in a nerve wracking tiebreak that extended the match even more.
[READ: Alex Eala tearful after historic 1st WTA final: 'It's a big deal for me and my country’]
“Kung may tinanim, may aanhin,” Nike wrote in a white box with weave details and a grass bottom--a nod to Wimbledon's famed surface.
For Eala, she says it is a reminder of where she has been and how she’s reached the point of her career now. It also serves as an ode to the country she always carries with her wherever she goes.
“The sampaguita- the flower of my country. A reminder of where I come from – and everything that brought me here. Ang sampaguita ay paalala ng aking pinanggalingan at ng kulturang lagi kong dala-dala,” the 20-year-old wrote on social media.
Technically, this is not Eala's first time in Wimbledon--having reached the second round of both doubles and singles as a junior. However, this will be her debut as a professional, as she stumbled in the final round of qualifiers in 2024.
Eala is expected to wear the tie when she attempts to conquer tall odds anew against Krejcíková in the first round.
Eala tangles against Krejcíková at 8:30 p.m., Manila time.