Joselito Malig

Philippines's Alexandra Eala plays a backhand return to US Iva Jovic during their women's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<p><strong>(2ND UPDATE) </strong>Alex Eala has done it again.</p><p>The Filipina wildcard pulled off the biggest upset of her career, stunning world no. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the round of 16 of the WTA 500 Berlin Open on Thursday.</p><p>Eala came out strong in the opening set to topple the former Wimbledon champion and advance to the quarterfinals, where she is set to face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.</p><p>The first set was a fierce battle of serves. </p><p>Rybakina opened with two aces in the first game to hold comfortably, but Eala responded with a gutsy service game of her own, bouncing back from 0-30 with two clean forehand winners to level at 1-1.</p><p>Rybakina then turned up the power, firing six aces to race out to a commanding 4-1 lead. While it looked like the set was slipping away from the Filipina star, Eala refused to fold.</p><p>Playing with aggressive intent, she stayed low on her returns and changed ball direction brilliantly to narrow the gap to 4-3. </p><p>She then held her own serve with back-to-back aces to even the set at 4-4.</p><p>Rybakina edged ahead again at 5-4, but Eala leveled it at 5-5 with big serving of her own. </p><p>The Filipina then broke Rybakina&#x27;s serve to take a 6-5 lead and closed out the first set, 7-5.</p><p>The momentum continued for Eala throughout the second set as she raced to a 5-3 lead, serving well, returning brilliantly, and winning long rallies while capitalizing on over 30 unforced errors from Rybakina.</p><p>The world no. 2 managed to hold serve and close the gap at 5-4, but Eala confidently served it out to secure the monumental straight-sets victory, 7-5, 6-4.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;I CALLED MY DAD&#x27; </strong></div><p>Eala was still shaking when she called her father, Mike, moments after pulling off the biggest win of her career.</p><p>&quot;I called my dad,&quot; Eala said in her post-match interview. &quot;I said, &#x27;Oh my God.&#x27; We were just screaming, and my mom was there and all. I&#x27;m just really happy.&quot;</p><p>Asked to reflect on what she had just accomplished, Eala admitted she was still processing the victory.</p><p>&quot;I am a little foggy right now,&quot; she said. &quot;I&#x27;m still shaking — and I was shaking at match point, too. But I&#x27;m really happy with the day. It could have gone either way. I think there were really tight moments in both sets and, of course, she&#x27;s an amazing player. She&#x27;s the one to beat. So I&#x27;m happy to have been able to share the court with her again.&quot;</p><p>The match was far from straightforward. Rybakina came out firing in the first set, but Eala clawed her way back.</p><p>&quot;She really started on fire and came out hot,&quot; Eala said. &quot;I think I was able to get a couple of free points with my serve, and that helped. And just some good returning… I don&#x27;t know how many aces she had in the first couple of games, so getting points in play was a big help for me.&quot;</p><p>When pressed on the secret to returning against the best server on the tour, Eala&#x27;s answer was simple.</p><p>&quot;I think you have to give yourself grace while also being brave,&quot; she said. &quot;I think returning and my game in general — a highlight word would be to be brave. And it makes a big difference when I&#x27;m able to do that.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RqJZ3vVS6es?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Filipina tennis star Alex Eala pulled off a massive upset victory over world no. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open round-of-16 on Thursday.</p>

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala pulled off a massive upset victory over world no. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open round-of-16 on Thursday.

Alex Eala stuns world no. 2 Elena Rybakina in Berlin

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Alex Eala stuns world no. 2 Elena Rybakina in Berlin

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 19, 2026 01:13 AM PHT

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Updated June 19, 2026 01:38 AM PHT

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Alex Eala

Elena Rybakina

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