Watch: Alexandra Eala cries tears of joy after the biggest win of her career over Iga Swiatek

Alexandra Eala couldn’t contain her emotions after scoring the biggest win of her career and broke down in tears moments later. stunning defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 in the third round of Wimbledon 2026 on Saturday. The 21-year-old Filipina collapsed on the grass before wiping away tears as Center Court rose to applaud one of the biggest upsets of this year’s championships.

Eala, ranked 32nd, showed remarkable composure against the six-time Grand Slam champion. The opening set proved to be a thrilling contest, with Eala saving two set points before closing out the tie-break 11-9 after more than an hour of intense baseline exchange. She then carried that momentum into the second set, racing to a 3-0 lead and never allowing Swiatek to regain control.

Swiatek, who arrived at Wimbledon as the defending champion and the third seed, struggled to match Eala’s aggressive left-handed game and fearless shooting. The Pole briefly threatened a comeback, but Eala stayed level and sealed the match with a trademark forehand crosscourt winner, prompting emotional celebrations.

A HISTORICAL MILESTONE FOR EALA

The victory marked another historic milestone for Eala, who became the first Filipino player to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles event. It also strengthened her reputation as one of the brightest young stars on the WTA Tour after her breakthrough season in 2025.

After the match, an emotional Eala admitted that the opportunity meant everything to her as she grew up dreaming of competing on Wimbledon’s biggest stage.

The youngster recalled his childhood training sessions in the Philippines with his brother and grandfather. She also expressed her gratitude for sharing center court with Iga Swiatek, adding that she was overwhelmed with emotions to fulfill her childhood dream.

“I don’t know how to describe it. I’ve already been to the second week of a Grand Slam, but this is amazing for me. Iga is a phenomenal player and a really nice person, so I’m really grateful to share center court with her at Wimbledon,” said Eala.

“I’m really emotional. Maybe for someone like Iga, who has won so many Grand Slams,

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

04 Jul 2026 21:36 IST