Alex Eala gifted nod to Filipino roots with sampaguita hair tie ahead of Wimbledon debut
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.
