Bernadette Soriano

Exit signs for Eala, but not without leaving her mark on the grass.

Alex Eala’s first taste of Wimbledon main draw action ended in heartbreak as defending champion Barbora Krejcikova stormed back from a set down to win, 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, under the pristine glare of Centre Court Tuesday evening (Philippine time).

Photo Courtesy of AP Photo/Kin Cheung.

The 20-year-old Filipina started strong, shaking off early nerves and flipping a 1-2 deficit into a 5-2 run built on clean groundstrokes and confident court movement.

With her first serve clicking and Krejcikova misfiring on returns, Eala pocketed the opening set, 6-3, putting the Czech on the back foot and Centre Court on alert.

Even the 29-year old tactician couldn’t help but tip her visor to the rising Filipina across the net.

“I mean, what the hell she played in the first set?” she said, smiling in disbelief during her post-match interview. “She was smashing the ball and cleaning the lines, so wow, wow. She’s going to be really good in a couple of years.”

But that window didn’t stay open for long.

Krejcikova, whose craft and court IQ have won her Grand Slam titles, recalibrated in the second set, changing pace, widening angles, and breaking Eala twice to sprint to a 5-0 lead.

Eala broke serve to stay alive at 2-5, but the shift had begun.

By the decider, Krejcikova was fully in control, reading Eala’s patterns, dragging her into longer rallies, and applying pressure with variety and precision.

Eala held for 1-3 with a couple of fearless forehands, but the defending champ never blinked.

Composed and clinical, Krejcikova closed the door with veteran poise, ending Eala’s breakthrough bid in just under two hours.

The defending champ advances to face either World No. 66 Caroline Dolehide or World No. 94 Arantxa Rus, in a second-round clash likely to favor whoever adapts faster to the fast, low bounce of the grass.

Eala, meanwhile, stays in the draw through doubles, teaming up with Germany’s Eva Lys against Olga Danilovic and Anastasia Potapova in a first-round match set for Wednesday (Philippine time).