Iga Swiatek on Wimbledon shock exit after losing to Alexandra Eal: It happens

Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek admitted it “doesn’t happen to s**t” after her title defense came to a stunning end when she beat Alexandra Ealova in straight sets in the third round on Saturday (July 4).

The Polish star, seeded third, lost 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 on center court as 21-year-old Eala caused one of the biggest surprises of the championship. The win made the Filipina the first player from her country to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament and underlined her rapid rise on the WTA Tour.

Swiatek, who won her first Wimbledon title last year with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Amanda Anisima in the final, struggled to find her rhythm after letting a fiercely contested opening set tiebreak slip away.

Wimbledon 2026 Update on 6

Reflecting on the loss, the six-time Grand Slam champion pointed to uncharacteristic mistakes at the net.

“Yeah, sometimes it was. I can’t really explain those volley errors because I usually play those shots well. So yeah, it happens,” Swiatek said in her post-match press conference.

Iga Swiatek in the press after her loss to Alex Eala at Wimbledon

“I thought you set up the points really well and then it was like the last shot.

Iga: “It used to be like that, yeah. Hell, it happens.”

pic.twitter.com/gP5OVIWiQG— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 4, 2026

SWIATEK RUES MISSED CHANCES

Although disappointed with the result, Swiatek found positives in the way she fought after trailing early in the competition.

“I’m happy with how I came back in the tiebreak and also after being down in the first set because I feel like in Paris, I would have lost it in straight sets. I was there to fight, but it wasn’t enough. I definitely could have played a little better, but she played great too. She took her chances and went for it,” Swiatek said.

The former world number one acknowledged that Eala showed more courage when the match came down to crucial moments, particularly during the marathon first-set tiebreak that decisively shifted the momentum in the Filipina’s favour.

“I remember in the tiebreak when it was tight, I eased up a little bit. She was brave enough to play a little bit faster. At Wimbledon, you have to be brave to win those points.

“It was hard for me to find the right balance between pace, which cost me a few matches this year because I was playing too fast and staying firm. I didn’t find that balance today and I lost. She played better in the important moments,” added Swiatek.

FEARLESS EALA CONTINUES THE RUN OF DREAMS

Eala once again displayed the fearless grassroots tennis that marked her breakthrough season. The left-hander overcame an absorbing first set in an 11-9 tiebreak before storming through the second set, repeatedly forcing errors from the defending champion with aggressive hitting.

She will now face 2024 Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round as she looks to extend her dream campaign.

For Swiatek, the defeat ends an unexpectedly short title defense and raises further questions about her search for consistency after an otherwise glittering career that has included six Grand Slam singles titles.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

04 Jul 2026 23:29 IST