Nike gifts Alexandra Eala hair tie featuring Philippines' national flower ahead of Centre Court debut
The white, star-shaped flower was not only on-trend for Wimbledon and its all-white dress code, but also 'a reminder of where I come from—and everything that brought me here.'
Alexandra Eala had a little slice of home with her as she made a much-anticipated Wimbledon main-draw debut on Tuesday.
Facing defending champion Barbora Krejcikova on Centre Court, the history-making Filipina wore a hair tie featuring the sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines—a thoughtful gift from her apparel sponsor, Nike.
The white, star-shaped flower was not only on-trend for Wimbledon and its all-white dress code, but also "a reminder of where I come from—and everything that brought me here," the 20-year-old wrote as she showcased her new accessory on Instagram.
The gift came with a heartfelt note from Nike,which referenced the trailblazing steps forward Eala has taken as a pro this year, from her breakout run to the semifinals of the Miami Open to establishing herself firmly inside the Top 100 of the WTA rankings.
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“Every dream begins as a seed. ‘Kung may tinanim, may aanihin,'" it read, referencing a phrase in Tagalog. "And what you plant, you’ll one day reap.”
“A Filipina on the grass courts of history. Not just playing for herself, but carrying a nation in full bloom," it added.
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Eala's history-making season took another step forward in the days ahead of Wimbledon, where she became the first woman from her country to reach a WTA singles final with a runner-up effort in Eastbourne. She had four championship points against Australian Maya Joint in the final
"This has to be one of the toughest losses of my early career, but I firmly believe that it’s these moments that make you stronger and shape your character," she wrote on social media.
