Barbora Krejcikova needed a comeback to avoid becoming the second consecutive Wimbledon women’s champion to lose in the first round a year later at the All England Club, eventually eliminating 56th-ranked Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 3-6,

Photo: @alex.eala instagram Filipina tennis trailblazer takes a set off defending champion Krejčíková LONDON — History was made on Centre Court as Alexandra “Alex” Eala became the first Filipina in

Krejcikova, seeded 17th in her title-retention campaign and ranked No. 16 in the world, gallant fought back from the opening-set loss while nursing a thigh injury that forced her to withdraw from the Eastbourne Open semifinals just days earlier.