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| Alex Eala smoked Maya Joint for her first ever career back-to-back grand slam wins. Richard Esguerra (file photo) |
MANILA—Alex Eala's dream run at Wimbledon continues.
The 21-year-old Filipina produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Australia's Maya Joint, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, and secure a place in the Round of 32 of the prestigious grand slam tournament on Thursday at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.
The victory carried extra significance for Eala, who gained redemption against Joint after their dramatic encounter in the 2025 Eastbourne Open final.
A year after Eala came within a point of capturing her first WTA title and held four championship points before Joint mounted a stunning comeback, the young Filipina turned the tables on the Wimbledon grass courts.
Eala endured a shaky start in which she gave up a break point to Joint right in the opening game to come to within one in Set 1, 3-4.
However, Joint won back-to-back games, including another service break in Game 9, to clinch the opening set.
Joint controlled the early exchanges with 13 winners and held all four of her service games, while Eala struggled to establish her rhythm.
The Filipina responded emphatically in the second set, raising her level on both offense and defense.
Eala took one service break back in Game 3 to eventually go up, 3-1.
Joint held serve in Game 5, but Eala won the next three games to force Set 3.
Eala fired 11 winners and won all four of her service games en route to a commanding Set 2 victory.
Her aggressive play forced Joint into 14 errors, while Eala committed just seven.
With momentum firmly on her side, Eala dominated the deciding set.
She won every service and return game in a ruthless 6-0 sweep, overwhelming her Australian opponent with relentless pressure.
Joint committed 20 errors in the final set alone, while Eala made just four.
Joint finished with 41 total errors, more than double Eala's 18, as the Filipina's consistency and composure proved decisive.
A third head-to-head showdown between Eala and Iga Swiatek now looms in the next round.
Swiatek, the defending champion at Wimbledon, took out Karolina Pliskova in their own Round of 64 clash, 6-1, 6-3.
Both Eala and Swiatek split their two meetings last year, with Eala winning first in the Miami Open quarterfinals and Swiatek bouncing back in the Madrid Open Round of 64.
Already playing on concrete and clay, this will be their first showdown on grass and their first at a grand slam event.
