MANILA — Fresh from the best Grand Slam campaign of her career, Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala said refining her serve remains one of her top priorities, emphasizing that the occasional off day on court does not erase the relentless work she puts into improving one of the most demanding aspects of her game.
The 21-year-old, who reached the Round of 16 at Wimbledon after stunning defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round, said her success has been built on constant preparation and a mindset that embraces both progress and setbacks.
“People don’t know how much work I put into my serve. So, when I go out there and I have a bad serve day, it’s okay,” Eala said during a recent meet-and-greet event.
Eala revealed that her preparation extends beyond hours on the practice court, saying she meticulously writes notes before every match to keep herself mentally focused and disciplined.
“Before the match, I write things in my notebook. I write the game plan, I write a couple points that are important to remember,” she said.
She explained that she condenses her strategy into one or two key reminders that she reviews during changeovers to stay on track throughout the match.
However, Eala admitted that the brief breaks between games often leave little room for reflection, particularly during physically taxing contests, as hydration and nutrition also demand her attention.
“Sometimes when it’s really hot or I’m really tired, in the change of ends, it’s only like a minute and a half. So, I only have the time to think about what sequence of drinks I should be having,” Eala said.
Looking back on her historic Wimbledon campaign, Eala said maintaining the proper mindset proved just as crucial as executing her tactical game plan.
Instead of dwelling on the scoreboard or thinking too far ahead, she said she constantly reminded herself to focus only on the next point until the match was truly over.
“If you’re down or if it seems bleak… it’s always, you know, next point, next point, hindi pa tapos, until you actually win,” she said.
Eala’s breakthrough Wimbledon performance established a new career milestone and further strengthened her status as one of Philippine sports’ brightest international stars as she continues her rise on the professional tennis circuit./PN
