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| Alex Eala sent Iga Swiatek home from Wimbledon. Richard Esguerra (file photo) |
MANILA—Alex Eala’s remarkable Wimbledon campaign shows no signs of slowing down.
The 21-year-old Filipina pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far, defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets, 7-6 (9), 6-2, to book her place in the Round of 16 of the year’s third Grand Slam.
Fresh off her comeback victory over Maya Joint in the previous round, Eala once again proved she belongs among the sport’s elite, knocking out one of the tournament favorites with a fearless and composed performance.
The opening set was a tightly contested affair, with neither player giving much away.
Eala matched Swiatek shot for shot before prevailing in a dramatic tiebreak to seize the early advantage.
That breakthrough shifted the momentum completely in the Filipina’s favor.
Playing with growing confidence, Eala controlled the second set through her aggressive groundstrokes and disciplined shot selection.
She consistently dictated the rallies and kept Swiatek under pressure, preventing the defending champion from finding any sustained rhythm.
Eala finished the match with 24 winners and four aces, while her relentless style of play forced Swiatek into 44 unforced errors.
The Filipina’s combination of power, consistency, and composure proved too much for the reigning champion to overcome.
The victory is another historic milestone for Philippine tennis.
After becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA singles final last year and recording her best Grand Slam run this week, Eala has now advanced to her first-ever Wimbledon Round of 16.
Standing between Eala and a place in the quarterfinals is Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, the tournament’s 13th seed and last year’s Wimbledon runner-up.
Eala will enter the match with confidence, having already defeated Paolini earlier this year in the Round of 32 of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she claimed a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory—one of the biggest wins of her breakthrough season.
A victory over Paolini would send Eala into her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal, adding yet another chapter to her historic Wimbledon campaign.
