Alexandra Eala is the giantkiller who lit up Wimbledon – but will she rise to the top?

Filipino sensation has been embraced by her nation yet star power outweighs her career achievements … so far

In the opening week at Wimbledon queues snaked around the grounds as fans lined up for the chance to catch one of the 32 second-round matches. Afterwards, they thronged the exit of Court 3 so densely that the eventual winner was preceded by two men in suits and panama hats struggling to clear a path. You’d be forgiven for thinking that, if you peered through the mass of bodies, you might catch a glimpse of a former grand slam champion or leading British player such as Katie Boulter. But the figure that emerged, signing notebooks, balls, and whatever fans waved blindly in her direction was 21-year-old Filipino sensation Alexandra Eala.

Eala’s Wimbledon run was one to note. Already the highest-ranked Filipino player of all time, after winning on Court 3 she went on to upset the defending champion, Iga Swiatek, in straight sets on Centre Court to achieve her deepest grand slam run before bowing out against Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round. She’s been billed as the star turn of September’s WTA 500 Singapore Open and features on the poster for the upcoming Mubadala Citi DC Open. Her company on the publicity material? Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka, former world No 1 Venus Williams, and current world No 10, Elina Svitolina, among a host of equally decorated players.