Wimbledon 2025: Amanda Lays An Egg, Alex Steals Our Hearts, and Jannik Makes History
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Wimbledon 2025: Amanda Lays An Egg, Alex Steals Our Hearts, and Jannik Makes History
Philip Cu-Unjieng
Published Jul 14, 2025 11:40 PM PHT
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Updated Jul 15, 2025 03:27 AM PHT

Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek | Photo from @wimbledon

This year’s Wimbledon fortnight becomes memorable for several reasons—some are good reasons, some not so good, and some outright disastrous, all depending on whose POV you’re taking.
This year’s Wimbledon fortnight becomes memorable for several reasons—some are good reasons, some not so good, and some outright disastrous, all depending on whose POV you’re taking.
If you’re a tennis net cord, this tournament allowed you to bask in the proverbial spotlight for several days, after the Ladies’ Semis between #1 seed Aryna Sabalenka and 13th seed Amanda Anisimova. Sabalenka took umbrage when one of Anisimova’s groundstrokes became a lucky net cord point, and Anisimova made no gesture of apology and pumped her fists instead. As background, there is something of an unwritten rule in tennis that when a net cord ball works in your favor, you acknowledge how luck was involved in winning that specific point. A raising of the racket, or a shouted ‘Sorry’ or mouthed apology, is often used to signify this stroke of luck.
If you’re a tennis net cord, this tournament allowed you to bask in the proverbial spotlight for several days, after the Ladies’ Semis between #1 seed Aryna Sabalenka and 13th seed Amanda Anisimova. Sabalenka took umbrage when one of Anisimova’s groundstrokes became a lucky net cord point, and Anisimova made no gesture of apology and pumped her fists instead. As background, there is something of an unwritten rule in tennis that when a net cord ball works in your favor, you acknowledge how luck was involved in winning that specific point. A raising of the racket, or a shouted ‘Sorry’ or mouthed apology, is often used to signify this stroke of luck.
That Sabalenka was visibly irked, was grumbling that Anisimova should apologize, and that this was taken up in the post-match press conference, and even had personages like Martina Navratilova being asked to comment on the incident—all pointed to how controversy seems to follow Sabalenka. That she was upset by Anisimova and would not be facing Iga Świątek in the Ladies' Final was overshadowed by this net cord issue.
That Sabalenka was visibly irked, was grumbling that Anisimova should apologize, and that this was taken up in the post-match press conference, and even had personages like Martina Navratilova being asked to comment on the incident—all pointed to how controversy seems to follow Sabalenka. That she was upset by Anisimova and would not be facing Iga Świątek in the Ladies' Final was overshadowed by this net cord issue.
As for Anisimova, the American’s wonderful performance in the Semi had pushed her into her first-ever Slam Final. There, she was to face a 5-time Slam winner, but one who had never won on grass. While Iga has four French Open crowns and one Australian, it was actually something of a surprise to see her get so far in this Slam. Her last significant win was at Roland Garros (French Open) in 2024. Practically none of the sportswriters had even predicted her for this tournament, despite her being seeded No. 8.
As for Anisimova, the American’s wonderful performance in the Semi had pushed her into her first-ever Slam Final. There, she was to face a 5-time Slam winner, but one who had never won on grass. While Iga has four French Open crowns and one Australian, it was actually something of a surprise to see her get so far in this Slam. Her last significant win was at Roland Garros (French Open) in 2024. Practically none of the sportswriters had even predicted her for this tournament, despite her being seeded No. 8.
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But rise to the occasion, Șwiątek did! And if ever someone dominated a Wimbledon Final, and completely dismantled her opponent, one will reference this 2025 Ladies’ Final, as Iga destroyed Amanda, 6-0, 6-0. One would have to go before the Open era, to 1911, to find a Wimbledon Final that also went 6-0, 6-0, with Dorothea Chambers lording it over Dora Boothby. Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva by that score in the 1988 French Open.
But rise to the occasion, Șwiątek did! And if ever someone dominated a Wimbledon Final, and completely dismantled her opponent, one will reference this 2025 Ladies’ Final, as Iga destroyed Amanda, 6-0, 6-0. One would have to go before the Open era, to 1911, to find a Wimbledon Final that also went 6-0, 6-0, with Dorothea Chambers lording it over Dora Boothby. Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva by that score in the 1988 French Open.
It was such a shellacking that, in the awarding ceremony graced by Catherine, Princess of Wales, Catherine had a longer conversation with Amanda than with the Polish champion, Iga. While Amanda would not disclose all that passed between the two, she did offer up how it was about holding her head high to have reached this far, and not to let the on-court debacle define her.
It was such a shellacking that, in the awarding ceremony graced by Catherine, Princess of Wales, Catherine had a longer conversation with Amanda than with the Polish champion, Iga. While Amanda would not disclose all that passed between the two, she did offer up how it was about holding her head high to have reached this far, and not to let the on-court debacle define her.
If here in the Philippines, the excitement during the first week of Wimbledon was fever pitch, I can only offer up one name as the reason for such frenzied interest: Alexandra Eala. The 20-year-old had carried the nation on her back the previous weekend by reaching her first WTA Final at Eastbourne—one of the warm-up tournaments to Wimbledon. This was even better than her storied run to the Semis in Miami earlier in the year. First tennis player from the Philippines to reach a WTA or ATP Final; so this was Alex going where no man or woman from the Philippines had ever reached.
If here in the Philippines, the excitement during the first week of Wimbledon was fever pitch, I can only offer up one name as the reason for such frenzied interest: Alexandra Eala. The 20-year-old had carried the nation on her back the previous weekend by reaching her first WTA Final at Eastbourne—one of the warm-up tournaments to Wimbledon. This was even better than her storied run to the Semis in Miami earlier in the year. First tennis player from the Philippines to reach a WTA or ATP Final; so this was Alex going where no man or woman from the Philippines had ever reached.
That she lost in the Eastbourne Final to a 19-year-old Australian became a moot point. Her first match on the grass of SW19 was hotly anticipated, and she actually won the first set. Unfortunately, Barbora Krejčíková adjusted her game plan, sweeping the last two sets and the match. In doubles, Eala and her partner, Lys, also got knocked out in the first round.
That she lost in the Eastbourne Final to a 19-year-old Australian became a moot point. Her first match on the grass of SW19 was hotly anticipated, and she actually won the first set. Unfortunately, Barbora Krejčíková adjusted her game plan, sweeping the last two sets and the match. In doubles, Eala and her partner, Lys, also got knocked out in the first round.
Well, there’s the upcoming US Open, August 24 to September 7, where she will be automatically joining the main draw. Hope springs eternal with Alex, and we can’t get enough of her; so the metropolis went abuzz to find out that Alex is here in the Philippines for a break, before heading to the USA and Canada, for the hard-court season. Her first stop will be the National Bank Open in Canada, which kicks off on July 26. Hard court is Alex’s surface of choice, as her Miami Open run showed us.
Well, there’s the upcoming US Open, August 24 to September 7, where she will be automatically joining the main draw. Hope springs eternal with Alex, and we can’t get enough of her; so the metropolis went abuzz to find out that Alex is here in the Philippines for a break, before heading to the USA and Canada, for the hard-court season. Her first stop will be the National Bank Open in Canada, which kicks off on July 26. Hard court is Alex’s surface of choice, as her Miami Open run showed us.
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Sightings of Alex at the Polo Club, where she practices in the morning on the hard courts, became the rage on social media. I’m just hoping the Club can be strict about outside people wandering onto the courts, hoping to get a glimpse of the star athlete, and requesting selfies. These practice sessions of Alex are precious hours spent staying in shape and preparing for the next campaign. There are official meet-and-greets set up by her sponsors for later in the week.
Sightings of Alex at the Polo Club, where she practices in the morning on the hard courts, became the rage on social media. I’m just hoping the Club can be strict about outside people wandering onto the courts, hoping to get a glimpse of the star athlete, and requesting selfies. These practice sessions of Alex are precious hours spent staying in shape and preparing for the next campaign. There are official meet-and-greets set up by her sponsors for later in the week.


Photos courtesy of Michael Cumagun via Facebook

While the Wimbledon interest of the horde of Eala fans may have waned, or outright expired, upon her exit from the tournament, for the true tennis aficionados, the Sunday Men’s Final, between #1 seed Jannik Sinner and #2 seed Carlos Alcaraz, was the stuff of tennis dreams coming true. Their 2025 French Open Final, one of the best matches in tennis history, is still fresh in our minds, so this was one to anticipate with deliberate passion, hoping for even half the drama and shot-making of that French Open contest.
While the Wimbledon interest of the horde of Eala fans may have waned, or outright expired, upon her exit from the tournament, for the true tennis aficionados, the Sunday Men’s Final, between #1 seed Jannik Sinner and #2 seed Carlos Alcaraz, was the stuff of tennis dreams coming true. Their 2025 French Open Final, one of the best matches in tennis history, is still fresh in our minds, so this was one to anticipate with deliberate passion, hoping for even half the drama and shot-making of that French Open contest.
So much riding on the outcome. Sinner seeking his 4th Slam title, and his first Wimbledon, as his three consist of two Australians and one US Open. For Alcaraz, this is gunning for number 6 Slam title; and just as important, he’s going for a Wimbledon ‘threepeat’—three consecutive years of taking the Cup. Only four other players have achieved that in the Open era: Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. For Carlos, that’s some company to join at the age of 22. Plus, he’s been 5 for 5 in Slam Finals!
So much riding on the outcome. Sinner seeking his 4th Slam title, and his first Wimbledon, as his three consist of two Australians and one US Open. For Alcaraz, this is gunning for number 6 Slam title; and just as important, he’s going for a Wimbledon ‘threepeat’—three consecutive years of taking the Cup. Only four other players have achieved that in the Open era: Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. For Carlos, that’s some company to join at the age of 22. Plus, he’s been 5 for 5 in Slam Finals!
The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is the shot in the arm that tennis drastically needed after Federer and Nadal retired. The era of the Big Three, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, was very unique. Over the last eight years or so, we’ve had several NextGen players touted as the new ‘messiahs,’ but Medvedev, Zverev, Berrettini, and Tsitsipas never reached their full potential. Ruud, Fritz, Rune—they all play great tennis, but they have not racked up Slam titles.
The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is the shot in the arm that tennis drastically needed after Federer and Nadal retired. The era of the Big Three, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, was very unique. Over the last eight years or so, we’ve had several NextGen players touted as the new ‘messiahs,’ but Medvedev, Zverev, Berrettini, and Tsitsipas never reached their full potential. Ruud, Fritz, Rune—they all play great tennis, but they have not racked up Slam titles.
It’s Sinner and Alcaraz who have ‘walked the talk,’ and at 23 and 22, already have multiple Slam titles to place on their mantelpiece. It’s a head-to-head match-up that fires up the imagination of sports fans, even those who aren’t following tennis regularly.
It’s Sinner and Alcaraz who have ‘walked the talk,’ and at 23 and 22, already have multiple Slam titles to place on their mantelpiece. It’s a head-to-head match-up that fires up the imagination of sports fans, even those who aren’t following tennis regularly.
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And it was Sinner emerging victorious this time out, claiming his first Wimbledon and having the distinction of being the first Italian to raise the Cup. Alcaraz took the first set 4-6, but then Sinner reeled off three straight sets of 6-4. As in Paris, the exchanges were crisp and tight, and this was London being treated to enthralling tennis.
And it was Sinner emerging victorious this time out, claiming his first Wimbledon and having the distinction of being the first Italian to raise the Cup. Alcaraz took the first set 4-6, but then Sinner reeled off three straight sets of 6-4. As in Paris, the exchanges were crisp and tight, and this was London being treated to enthralling tennis.
With one more Slam left in the year, we can only hope that Alex Eala finds her form in this year’s US Open to progress beyond the first round of a Grand Slam. It’s her favorite surface, and our prayers are with her.
With one more Slam left in the year, we can only hope that Alex Eala finds her form in this year’s US Open to progress beyond the first round of a Grand Slam. It’s her favorite surface, and our prayers are with her.
Lead photo from @wimbledon
Lead photo from @wimbledon
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