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Filipina becomes the first Filipino player in the Open era to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament after defeating the defending Wimbledon champion.
LONDON — Alexandra Eala delivered the biggest victory of her career on Saturday, July 4, defeating defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek 7-6(9), 6-2 to advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon and continue the deepest Grand Slam singles run by a Filipino player in the Open era.
The 21-year-old Filipina, seeded No. 29, outplayed Swiatek, the tournament’s No. 3 seed and a five-time Grand Slam singles champion, in a poised performance on Centre Court. After prevailing in a fiercely contested opening-set tiebreak, Eala took command of the second set and closed out the match in straight sets.
The victory made Eala the first Filipino player in the Open era to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament. She saved two set points during an 84-minute opening set, won the tiebreak 11-9 and completed the straight-sets victory with a confident second-set performance.
The result also gave Eala the edge in her growing rivalry with Swiatek. They had split their previous two meetings this season, making this Wimbledon clash the decider, with Eala ending Swiatek’s title defense.
Her Wimbledon campaign opened with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua. In the second round, she rallied from a set down to defeat Australia’s Maya Joint, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, advancing to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
The victory capped a strong grass-court season, highlighted by a WTA 125 title in Birmingham and a semifinal run in Berlin.
She will next face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, last year’s Wimbledon finalist, for a place in the quarterfinals. T(hey have split two meetings this season. Paolini prevailed on clay in Madrid before Eala responded with a straight-sets victory in Dubai. Monday’s Wimbledon encounter will be their first meeting on grass.
After the match, Eala reflected on how far the journey had taken her.
“Maybe for someone like Iga, who has won so many Grand Slams, or maybe someone like Serena or Venus (Williams), this achievement may seem small,” Eala said. “But for someone who grew up in the Philippines … I went to training with my brother and my grandfather every day after school with my ruffled socks and my light-up shoes and chubby cheeks, so … to her, this is everything.”
She quickly turned her attention to the next challenge.
“Because I am emotional does not mean I am satisfied,” she said. “Next round, let’s go.”
