Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek was eliminated in the third round by 21-year-old Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, who won 7-6(9), 6-2 on Saturday. The match marked a historic moment for Eala, who became the first Filipino player to reach the second week of a Grand Slam tournament.
Swiatek, the third seed, struggled to find consistency after an early loss in the Bad Homburg tune-up tournament. She battled past Taylor Townsend and Karolina Pliskova in previous rounds but faced a determined Eala on Centre Court. The Polish star lost a high-intensity first set tiebreak before Eala took control in the second set, breaking Swiatek twice to seal the victory.
Eala, who previously defeated Swiatek in Miami last year, delivered a powerful performance with her baseline shot-making and tactical adaptability. She will now face 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round. After the match, Eala gave an emotional speech, reflecting on her journey from training with her brother and grandfather to making history for the Philippines.
Swiatek acknowledged Eala's challenging game, noting her ability to disrupt rhythm on grass. The loss ends Swiatek's title defense, opening the women's draw for other contenders.