All news tagged Wimbeldon

Vacation is over and now is the time to work hard. 

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is back on court and training hard at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. 

The 20-year-old resumed practice after a shoulder injury forced her to withdraw from the Cincinnati tournament.

Eala’s injury also impacted her Montreal Open campaign, where she battled valiantly but ultimately fell to Czech star Marketa Vondrousova in three sets: 6-3, 1-6, 2-6.

Now ranked No. 68 in the world, Eala is determined to bounce back and make a strong showing at the upcoming US Open. 

Her recent rankings dip (from a career-high No. 56 in June) has only stoked her drive to rise even higher. 

All the best, Alex. 

Alex Eala is set to face a challenging field at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Canada, kicking off this weekend as part of her preparations for another Grand Slam run at the US Open next month.

After a brief vacation in the Philippines, Eala will compete in her fourth WTA-1000 level tournament of the year, aiming to match or surpass her previous achievements.

The National Bank Open, scheduled for July 26 to August 7, will release its official draw this Friday, July 25.

Currently ranked No. 69, Eala could find herself up against familiar elite opponents she’s encountered at the Miami Open, Madrid Open, Italian Open, Eastbourne Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

Headlining the tournament are world No. 2 Coco Gauff, newly crowned Wimbledon champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek, and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula.

Eala previously partnered with Gauff at the Italian Open and faced Pegula in the Miami Open, where she made her first semifinal appearance at this level.

Alex Eala continues to honor her late grandfather and first tennis coach, Roberto “Bobby” Maniego, dedicating her recent achievements to his memory.

Eala’s breakthrough semifinal run at the Miami Open propelled her to a career-high World No. 56 ranking and opened the door to Grand Slam main draw appearances at both the French Open and Wimbledon. She credits much of her success to “Lolo Bob,” as she fondly called Maniego.

“Whenever I accomplish something big, I think about him. It would’ve meant so much for him to witness these moments and share them with our family. Even when he was struggling, he remained a strong mentor and always put in the work.” Eala shared. 

Before Alex and her brother Miko moved to Spain to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy, it was Maniego who introduced them to tennis and served as their first coach.

“He was a huge part of my life and early career,” He laid my foundation—my mentality and bravery on court come from his tough love and sacrifice.” the 20-year-old said.

Eala also revealed her admiration for Maria Sharapova, whom she considered her “super idol” growing up, inspired by Sharapova’s playing style, mindset, and presence on and off the court.

Now, Eala is setting her sights on another Grand Slam appearance, aiming for her first main draw win at the US Open from August 24 to September 7. She plans to compete in tournaments in Canada and the US before heading back to Asia later this year.

Amanda Anisimova delivered a stunning upset by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka, propelling herself into the Wimbledon final with a hard-fought victory of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. This milestone marks Anisimova's first appearance in a Wimbledon final and highlights her exceptional prowess as a power-hitter, particularly under the blazing sun on Centre Court.

After two intense hours and 36 minutes of fierce competition, Anisimova expressed her disbelief and excitement regarding her remarkable achievement. 

“This doesn’t feel real right now. Aryna is such a tough competitor... to emerge victorious and secure a spot in the final of Wimbledon is nothing short of incredible,” she declared.

Anisimova's journey to this final is historic; she became only the second player in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam final after experiencing a setback in the previous year's qualifying rounds. 

"If you had told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon, I wouldn’t have believed you," she admitted. 

This moment signifies a powerful redemption for Anisimova, once hailed as a teenage prodigy after her remarkable run to the 2019 French Open semi-finals at just 17. However, the weight of expectations proved overwhelming, prompting her to take an eight-month hiatus from tennis in 2023 to address her mental well-being. 

“I struggled with the lifestyle… it was impacting my performance on the court,” she shared. 

Upon her return, Anisimova's resurgence has been nothing short of inspiring, highlighted by her victory at the Qatar Open and a strong performance at Queen's Club. Now, following her journey to the Wimbledon semi-finals, she is poised to break into the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time—an achievement that underscores her incredible potential.

Conversely, Sabalenka faced yet another painful disappointment in her relentless pursuit of a Grand Slam title. Despite being a formidable competitor, she has struggled to overcome Anisimova, having lost six of their nine encounters.

In a match defined by tenacity and resilience, Anisimova saved crucial break points and seized critical moments, demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure. Even when she couldn't convert a match point while serving, she maintained her poise, ultimately sealing what she described as the “biggest win of her life.” This victory not only propels her into the final but also signifies the realization of her immense potential on the world stage.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz made a powerful statement by advancing to the Wimbledon semifinals for the third consecutive year, delivering a commanding straight-sets victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Alcaraz, the towering Spanish world No. 2, showcased his highest level of play in the tournament thus far, needing a mere 99 minutes to overwhelm Norrie with a score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated semifinal clash against American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

"To be able to play another semifinal here at Wimbledon is super special," Alcaraz said.

After a series of uneven performances that saw him drop four sets on his way to the quarterfinals, Alcaraz has rediscovered his dominant form, unleashing an impressive 39 winners against the beleaguered British No. 61 on the iconic Center Court.

At just 21 years old, the Spaniard is riding a remarkable career-best 23-match winning streak, a run that began after his defeat to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final last April. This remarkable winning streak includes triumphs at prestigious tournaments such as the French Open, Rome Masters, and Monte Carlo.

Having dethroned Novak Djokovic in the last two Wimbledon finals, Alcaraz boasts an impressive 34-3 record on grass at the Tour level. His only loss at the All England Club came in the 2022 fourth round against Jannik Sinner, underscoring his elite status on this formidable surface.

"It's going to be great. I'm really happy with the way I played against a really difficult player," Alcaraz added.