Filipina tennis player defeats defending Wimbledon champion in third round

Alex Eala defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (9), 6-2 in the third round at Wimbledon on Saturday. The match took place on Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Eala advanced to the fourth round.

Eala's run Eala said her progress stems from daily training with her team and family. "I've always thought about this as a personal journey because although I'm very grateful for all the support I get, it's my team, my family, and I who have been putting in the hours," Eala said. She described 12-hour court sessions and early mornings as the foundation of her results.

National attention in the Philippines Filipino viewers have followed Eala's matches in large numbers, according to the report. Eala compared the response to earlier attention given to boxer Manny Pacquiao and cited Olympic successes by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in 2021 and gymnast Carlos Yulo in 2024.

She said she wants young athletes to pursue their own paths rather than copy her career. ' I want them to say, 'I want to be the first me,'" Eala stated.