Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates beating Poland’s Iga Swiatek throughout their girls’s singles third spherical tennis match on the sixth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2026. (Photograph by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala dethroned defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland, 7-6(9), 6-2, on Saturday to achieve the final 16 and proceed to make historical past at Wimbledon.
As Swiatek anticipated, Eala proved trickier to face of their third assembly, this time on the Grand Slam stage and at Centre Court docket, no much less.
True sufficient, Eala survived a marathon within the first set earlier than catching fireplace within the second to increase her historic Wimbledon run into the fourth spherical, the place she is going to face Jasmine Paolini.
READ: Alex Eala writes historical past for Philippines at Wimbledon
Taking part in her finest tennis but, the Filipino tennis ace reached the spherical of 16 of a Grand Slam event for the primary time in her profession since competing in the principle draw final 12 months.
Eala was getting ready to successful the primary set with a 5-3 lead and a 40-30 benefit within the ninth recreation, however Swiatek fought her method again to degree at 5-5. Eala later earned one other set level, just for the Polish star to pressure a tiebreak.
The 21-year-old Filipino held 4 set factors within the tiebreak earlier than lastly outlasting the six-time Grand Slam singles champion after an hour and 24 minutes to grab the opening set.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines performs a return throughout the third spherical girls’s singles match in opposition to Iga Swiatek of Poland on the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 4, 2026.(AP Photograph/Maja Smiejkowska)
“Alternatives like this… I’ve to take it as a result of being here’s a blessing. I labored tremendous, tremendous arduous to get right here, and I’m taking it. If I’ve it, I’ve the possibility, I’m taking it,” Eala mentioned after her victory was met with a standing ovation.
Swiatek, the third seed of the event, ran out of fuel within the second as Eala raced to a 4-0 lead. She champion lastly stopped the bleeding with a dominant fifth recreation and gained one other to trim the deficit to 4-2.
READ: Alex Eala’s ‘tough recreation’ makes Iga Swiatek cautious
Eala responded with a powerful maintain within the seventh recreation to maneuver inside one recreation of victory at 5-2. Swiatek threatened to increase the match by incomes 5 break factors within the subsequent recreation.
However the historical past maker from the Philippines scored back-to-back forehand assaults to take the benefit and nailed the winner to finish Swiatek’s reign.
A second Alex Eala will always remember. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/2tGGkmzNC1
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2026
“Iga is an outstanding participant and a very nice particular person so I’m actually grateful to have the ability to share Heart Court docket along with her at Wimbledon nonetheless,” Eala mentioned of Swiatek, who gained her first Wimbledon title a 12 months in the past.
Eala now leads the head-to-head collection, 2-1, in opposition to Swiatek, successful their showdown on grass.
Her breakthrough began final 12 months when she upset the previous World No.2 Swiatek on the hardcourts of the Miami Open, which led to a dream run to the semifinals of the WTA 1000.
Swiatek acquired again at Eala within the second spherical of the Madrid Open in three units, asserting her mastery of the clay floor.
Eala, in her first seeded marketing campaign in a Grand Slam at No.29, took down Aussie Maya Joint with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win. She gained her first Wimbledon triumph in opposition to Mexican Renata Zarazua, 6-1, 6-2.
