Defending champion Iga Swiatek crashed out of Wimbledon in the third round on Saturday as Alexandra Eala produced the biggest win of her career to become the first Filipina to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam in the Open era.
The 21-year-old delivered a fearless performance on Centre Court, edging a gripping first set before racing away to a 7-6 (11/9), 6-2 victory over the world number three.
“It’s difficult to describe. I’m in the second week of a Slam and it’s incredible for me,” said Eala.
The defeat marked Swiatek’s earliest exit at a Grand Slam since she was beaten in the third round of Wimbledon by Yulia Putintseva in 2024.
Having already become the first player from the Philippines to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open era, Eala showed no signs of intimidation against the six-time major champion, improving to two wins from three meetings with the Pole.
“I’m really emotional and maybe for someone like Iga, who has won so many Slams, or someone like Serena or Venus (Williams), this achievement might seem small,” Eala said.
“But for someone who grew up in the Philippines… I trained with my mother and my grandfather every day after school with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks… so for her this is everything.”
The left-hander, who had won just one Grand Slam main-draw match before this year’s Wimbledon, will face former finalist Jasmine Paolini for a place in the quarter-finals.
Victory would make Eala the first Filipino player to reach a Grand Slam singles quarter-final since Felicisimo Ampon at the 1953 French Championships.
Despite enjoying strong support from Filipino fans throughout the tournament, Eala was equally impressive under the bright lights of Centre Court, outplaying Swiatek in the biggest match of her career.
Swiatek struggled throughout, committing 44 unforced errors as she failed to recover after letting two set points slip in a marathon first-set tie-break.
Eala seizes her moment
Eala served for the opening set at 5-3 but was broken before both players traded missed opportunities in a dramatic tie-break.
The world number 32 eventually converted her fourth set point when Swiatek pushed a backhand long.
Brimming with confidence, Eala stormed into a 4-0 lead in the second set against a visibly rattled opponent.
Swiatek briefly threatened a comeback by recovering one break, but another poor service game, featuring two double faults, left her trailing 5-2.
Eala then held her nerve in a tense final game, saving four break points before sealing victory with a forehand winner on her third match point.
She collapsed to the grass in celebration before breaking down in tears as the stunned Swiatek exited Centre Court.
Rybakina also falls
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina also suffered a surprise third-round exit, losing 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 to Belgium’s Elise Mertens on Court One.
Rybakina, who lifted the Wimbledon title in 2022 and won this year’s Australian Open, was unable to recover after losing a tight opening set as the 25th seed dominated the second.
The world number two has now failed to progress beyond the third round in each of her last two Wimbledon appearances.
“I’m upset, but it’s not going to take more than one or two days,” Rybakina said.
“I need to analyse and change something because it’s not working.”
The Kazakhstan star said she would use the upcoming hard-court season to reset before the US Open.
Mertens, a two-time Wimbledon doubles champion, advanced to the fourth round at the All England Club for the fourth time and will face Czech 21st seed Marie Bouzkova for a place in the quarter-finals.
“Definitely one of my most memorable wins, especially against her here at Wimbledon,” Mertens said.
“I soaked it all in today on Court One. It’s a beautiful court to play on.”
AFP
