Camille Naredo

Philippines' Alexandra Eala sheds a tear at the presentation ceremony after her defeat to Australia's Maya Joint in their women's singles final tennis match on day six of the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 28, 2025. Joint won the match in three sets, 12-10 in a third set tie-break. Adrian Dennis, AFP

Philippines' Alexandra Eala sheds a tear at the presentation ceremony after her defeat to Australia's Maya Joint in their women's singles final tennis match on day six of the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 28, 2025. Joint won the match in three sets, 12-10 in a third set tie-break. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

Article (news)

TENNIS-EALA

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751204263515AFP__20250628__646D2NR__v1__MidRes__776327815.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippines&#x27; Alexandra Eala sheds a tear at the presentation ceremony after her defeat to Australia&#x27;s Maya Joint in their women&#x27;s singles final tennis match on day six of the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 28, 2025. Joint won the match in three sets, 12-10 in a third set tie-break. Adrian Dennis, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippines&#x27; Alexandra Eala sheds a tear at the presentation ceremony after her defeat to Australia&#x27;s Maya Joint in their women&#x27;s singles final tennis match on day six of the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 28, 2025. Joint won the match in three sets, 12-10 in a third set tie-break. <em>Adrian Dennis, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Alex Eala&#x27;s coaches from The Rafa Nadal Academy were delighted to see the Filipina make it all the way to the finals of the Eastbourne Open, where she lost in a heartbreaker to Australian teen Maya Joint.</p><p>Eala had her chances but couldn&#x27;t close out Joint in the final, eventually absorbing a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (10) defeat to fall short of a breakthrough WTA championship.</p><p>Despite the setback, her coaches were proud to see the Filipina player&#x27;s growth and development.</p><p>Coach Sandro Viaene and fitness/medical doctor Lluc Bauza accompanied Eala from her campaign in the qualifying rounds, while Joan Bosch joined the team in the semifinals.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/6/29/after-run-to-eastbourne-finals-alex-eala-now-ranked-56th-by-wta-1709">READ: After run to Eastbourne finals, Alex Eala now ranked 56th by WTA</a></div><p>&quot;It was an amazing match. Alex played very good with a very good level,&quot; said Bosch. &quot;I&#x27;m super happy, super proud of her, the way she played, the way she managed her first final, the way she was on court, the body language, the level.&quot;</p><p>Joint saved four match points to stun Eala in the decider, but Bosch said that this &quot;is something that can happen.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sometimes we win, sometimes we cannot win,&quot; he said, while also crediting Joint for her &quot;very good match.&quot;</p><p>Viaene and Bauza, meanwhile, credited Eala&#x27;s work in training for her improved play.</p><p>After the Eastbourne Open, Eala is now setting her sights on Wimbledon, where she will play defending champ Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in the first round.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cempnpRXCqo?&amp;pp=0gcJCcMJAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5euXXnSYiU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Alex Eala's coaches from The Rafa Nadal Academy were delighted to see the Filipina make it all the way to the finals of the Eastbourne Open, where she lost in a heartbreaker to Australian teen Maya Joint.</p>

Alex Eala's coaches from The Rafa Nadal Academy were delighted to see the Filipina make it all the way to the finals of the Eastbourne Open, where she lost in a heartbreaker to Australian teen Maya Joint.

Coaches hail Alex Eala's improvement despite loss in Eastbourne finals

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Coaches hail Alex Eala's improvement despite loss in Eastbourne finals

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 29, 2025 09:40 PM PHT

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