Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek to become the first Filipina to reach the second week of Wimbledon. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17832134196741783213417150.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Filipina tennis star Alex Eala defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek to become the first Filipina to reach the second week of Wimbledon. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News </div>LONDON — An hour after knocking out defending champion and World No. 3 Iga Swiatek, Alex Eala faced a massive crowd of journalists at the Big Media Theatre at Wimbledon, all eager to learn more about the rising star who just achieved one of the tournament&#x27;s most historic wins.Eala was all smiles as she tried to put into words how it felt to score such a monumental victory on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.“I think I&#x27;m trying to collect them at the moment. Of course, so many emotions, such an intense battle. I&#x27;m really proud of how I fought and how I held my own out there,” she said.Fighting through a thrilling 7-6 (11-9) first-set tie-break, Eala described how she converted on her third set point.The tie-break had the packed Centre Court crowd on the edge of their seats. Swiatek initially led 2-0 before Eala rattled off five consecutive points to lead 5-2. Swiatek then stormed back to tie it up. Both players held set points before Eala ultimately prevailed.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/7/4/-this-is-my-dream-court-alex-eala-emotional-after-making-history-vs-iga-swiatek-2351">‘This is my dream court’: Alex Eala emotional after making history vs Iga Swiatek </a></div>“I was just thinking one point at a time. I think when you think it&#x27;s 9-all or 10-9, you start to kind of crumble a little bit. One point at a time—it helps,” Eala said.“At the end of the day, Iga is such an amazing player, so you never really know what&#x27;s going to happen. Once I saw my opportunities, or once I saw the ball coming, I went for it. Not much thinking. It&#x27;s more instinct, I would say.”When asked about her winning formula against Swiatek, the Filipina added: “I think more than specifically with Iga, I&#x27;m a very aggressive player, so I try to take all the opportunities I can. On grass, I try to step in. Yeah, I think that&#x27;s the best way I could describe it.&quot;Eala — who was playing on Wimbledon’s Centre Court for the second consecutive year, having played there in 2025 against then-defending champion Barbora Krejcikova — spoke about how special the tournament has been to her since she was a little girl.“Wimbledon has always been my favorite tournament, I got to say. I always loved the tradition around it, the elegance. When you&#x27;re young, there&#x27;s certain things that you don&#x27;t understand, but there are certain things that stick out to you. One thing for me is how people carry themselves, the all-white dress code, the greenery, and the grass courts,” she shared.“I hold Wimbledon very close to my heart. Being able to play here on Centre Court two years in a row, it&#x27;s amazing for me to be able to do that, and to have these intense moments and this level of competition on essentially the best stage in the world for tennis,” she added.Eala noted that she is grateful her second chance on the main stage proved highly successful.“I was in a similar position last year, and I think I was able to learn from that. I was able to go into this match with an improved mindset.”Elaborating on how she balances the emotions of a big win while remaining hungry for more, Eala explained her approach.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/7/4/alex-eala-dethrones-defending-champion-iga-swiatek-advances-to-wimbledon-fourth-round-2254">Alex Eala dethrones defending champion Iga Swiatek, advances to Wimbledon fourth round </a></div>“I don&#x27;t know if it&#x27;s my character or what it is. I think it&#x27;s important for me to celebrate, however long I have, and to enjoy victories like this. But once the next match gets closer and closer, my body feels it. I have that, I guess I would say, skill to lock back in. I think the skill of locking back in is something to be practiced as well. But yeah, I guess it comes with the character that I have.”Eala has a day to recover and prepare for her Round of 16 matchup on Monday against Jasmine Paolini—a player she has already defeated once this year in Dubai.“I think she&#x27;s a great player. She is a great fighter, especially. It was not an easy match in Dubai for me, and it will not be an easy match here either. But then again, every match is a different story. I&#x27;m going to do my best to prepare for that one and focus all my energy on trying to improve and do better.”

An hour after knocking out defending champion and World No. 3 Iga Swiatek, Alex Eala faced a massive crowd of journalists at the Big Media Theatre at Wimbledon, all eager to learn more about the rising star who just achieved one of the tournament's most historic wins.

An hour after knocking out defending champion and World No. 3 Iga Swiatek, Alex Eala faced a massive crowd of journalists at the Big Media Theatre at Wimbledon, all eager to learn more about the rising star who just achieved one of the tournament's most historic wins.

'One point at a time': ‘How Alex Eala toppled Swiatek on Wimbledon Centre Court

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'One point at a time': ‘How Alex Eala toppled Swiatek on Wimbledon Centre Court

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 05, 2026 09:06 AM PHT

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Updated July 05, 2026 01:23 PM PHT

Read More:

Alex Eala

Wimbledon

Iga Swiatek

Jasmine Paolini

Tennis

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