Alex Eala’s Wimbledon run earns praise from int’l stars ahead of PH return

Andrew Garfield calls her rise “inspiring”; Ambika Mod hopes she “wins it all.”

English stars Andrew Garfield and Ambika Mod have expressed support for Filipina tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala following her historic victory over defending champion Iga Świątek in the Wimbledon Round of 32.

In a British Vogue interview, Garfield called Eala’s breakthrough “inspiring,” describing it as “one of those special moments you get to share with an athlete who’s just beginning on her journey.”

Meanwhile, Mod said she hoped Eala would “win it all” after her third-round upset. “That would be such an underdog story. And it’s so nice to see young women achieving their dreams,” she said.

Garfield and Mod were among the international personalities spotted in the Centre Court audience during the match, alongside “Loki” star Tom Hiddleston, former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and “Bridgerton” actress Simone Ashley.

Eala’s victory over Świątek made history, as she became the first Filipino—male or female—to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament.

Although her Wimbledon campaign ended in the Round of 16 with a three-set loss to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, Eala still exited London having marked another breakthrough for Philippine tennis.

Her run also lifted her to a career-high World No. 28 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) live rankings, further cementing her status as the highest-ranked Filipina player in WTA history.

Before returning to competition for her hard-court season in the United States, Eala is set to return to the Philippines for a fan meet on July 15 at the Glorietta Activity Center, alongside other scheduled events.

The homecoming will mark Eala’s first public appearance in the country since her dream run at Wimbledon, giving Filipino fans a chance to celebrate the milestone with the tennis star herself.

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