MANILA, Philippines — Seeking a potential dream match against the returning women's tennis GOAT (greatest of all time) Serena Williams, Filipino ace Alex Eala looks to get back at Mexican Renata Zarazua in the Wimbledon Championships first round (round of 128) in London, England Tuesday.
The match is set at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Court 12 at 8:50 p.m. in Manila.
The winner earns the right to face either 23-time major champ Williams or Aussie Maya Joint in the second round (round of 64).
Eala fell to Zarazua in their first encounter in the W100 Cary Tennis Classic in North Carolina quarterfinals, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, in August 2024.
Both players developed a lot since that match especially Eala who is now world No. 32 and the Wimbledon No. 29 seed -- the first Filipino seeded player in a Grand Slam singles tourney.
Sporting a career-high rank of world No. 29, Eala was only 19 and ranked No. 147 when then 26-year-old and No. 104 Zarazua defeated her.
For her part, Zarazua improved to No. 75 with a career-best of No. 51.
Eala and Zarazua's familiarity also extends as doubles teammates in the French Open, where they reached the second round last year.
The 21-year-old Eala has been solid this grass court season with a 9-3 win-loss card highlighted by a perfect run to the 125 Birmingham Open title earlier this month and a semifinal finish at the 500 Berlin Open.
Unleashing one of the best runs in her career, Eala defeated newly-minted Queen's Club champ Donna Vekic in the first round, 7-5, 6-4, then stunned world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the second, 7-5, 6-4, as well as No. 8 Elina Svitolina in the third, 6-3, 6-4, in that Berlin run.
Eala's tear came to an end with a 2-6, 4-6, semifinal loss to Linda Noskova on June 21, and then a first round defeat to Elise Mertens at the Bad Homburg Open, 3-6, 3-6, on June 23.