Two Saturdays ago, on July 4, the internet buzzed with news of Alexanda Eala’s historic victory over Wimbledon’s defending champion, Iga Swiatek. Just 21 years old, the Filipina tennis star had defeated one of the world’s best.
Two days later, however, Eala lost to Italian veteran Jasmine Paolini, who is almost a decade older than she is. It seemed that Paolini's long years of experience gave her the edge. Even so, Eala fought back to win the second set despite obvious signs of fatigue after several grueling matches. That brief comeback shows Eala has the skills to challenge the world’s best.
Eala's strength and fighting spirit on Saturday were stunning and deserved all the admiration she received from fans around the world. But it was her gracious response to her loss on Monday that caught my attention, because it reminds us of how powerful reflective thinking can be.
Failure as feedback
Last year, Alex suffered a major loss to Australian Maya Joint at the Eastbourne International. In an interview, Alex admitted that the defeat crushed her so deeply that she had difficulty watching that game’s highlights for months.
Her victory against Maya in the second round of this year’s Wimbledon therefore signaled more than a better performance. It showed that Alex had learned to treat last year’s loss as an opportunity for growth.
Two months before playing at Wimbledon, Alex competed at the Roland Garros French Open, where she lost to her good friend, American Iva Jovic, in straight sets. Reports described her playing with great grit and perseverance, but despite briefly taking the lead in the second set, she could not stop Jovic from winning.
In her post-match interview, Alex remained composed. When asked how she felt about the loss, she simply replied, “Good match. It sends a message to keep on working and keep on building.”
In the same press conference, she was asked whether she still felt her skills lagged behind those of European players. The journalist was referring to another interview, conducted shortly after Alex moved to Spain, in which she said she realized her skills were wonky compared to those of her European co-athletes.
Rather than accept the question’s negative premise, she answered, “I think it’s all in perspective, you know … I’m now in the top 40 and have done a lot of great things … and the game at this level is about so much more than technique. So, there are so many factors that build into it. That being said, I’m super proud of how far I’ve come.”
Her reply can be seen as evidence of her reflective mindset. She refused to let a difficult defeat define her larger story. Even in disappointment, she made room to remember what she had already achieved and how much she has grown, both as a person and as an athlete.
Her wins at the Birmingham Open in June and this most recent one at Wimbledon, less than two months after her disappointing loss in France, are signs of how powerful reflective thinking can be.
Her winning secret? Nothing to do with tennis
Although Alex ends the Wimbledon tournament without winning the title, she told the public that she exits with optimism.
“I have to be proud of what I’ve achieved this week,” she said. “[I am] leaving with positive thoughts.”
She is the first Filipina to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam and to break into the top 30 in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings. When asked about her biggest strength, she did not point to a particular tennis skill, but to her mindset. As she explained, “The thing I can control most is how I think and how I approach certain obstacles.”
In the press conference after her loss against Paolini, she shared, “The only thing I can control is how I approach those situations. If I’m able to approach them with bravery, with a steady mind and with intensity, then I’m able to look back and feel no regret.”
For her, focusing on growth and on finding solutions allows her to find beauty even in setbacks. “That’s what’s beautiful about tennis,” she said. “You’re always finding solutions, and your opponent is always finding ways to make you uncomfortable.”
She also does not expect to win every time. She has acknowledged that she cannot play her best tennis every single day. This humble awareness echoes something the Holy Father recently wrote about how human limitations can become pathways to thriving: “And yet we must remember that humanity flourishes not despite limitations, but often through them.”
Even if Alex rarely speaks about her faith — apart from once sharing that she carries a rosary with her to every match — her commitment to cultivating inner freedom through reflective thinking and humility suggests that her Catholic and Augustinian upbringing has helped shape the person and athlete she has become.
