Alex Eala defeated Iga Swiatek, 7-6, 6-2, in the third round of the Wimbledon Championships.
Devastated after the match, Swiatek explained how Eala’s serve caused her problems.
“It was tougher mentally for me to accept these missed returns from the slow serves. I’ve got to say it’s much tougher to return a serve like that than a normal serve. Even though it’s super slow and people might think it’s easy to return that, it’s quite the opposite,” said Swiatek.
How many Grand Slams will Alex Eala win in her career? 🏆
She's just knocked out the defending Wimbledon champion!
During her post-match press conference, Eala was asked to respond to Swiatek’s comments.
Alex Eala said she ‘did her job well’ in response to Iga Swiatek’s comments about her serve
“I have never really been the biggest server in comparison to a lot of the girls here,” said Eala.
“So I do my best to use my serve as an advantage. I think I have a lot of other strengths. Although I do believe it’s been improving a lot!
“But yeah, every player’s different. Maybe Iga [Swiatek] today… She said that (about my serve)?
“I guess I did my job well, yeah!”
Alex Eala vs Iga Swiatek – Match stats
| Stats | Alex Eala | Iga Swiatek |
| Aces | 4 | 1 |
| Double faults | 0 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 62% | 68% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 57% | 57% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 55% | 41% |
| Break points | 5/7 | 3/11 |
Swiatek struggled on return against Eala, failing to convert eight break points throughout the match.
The Filipina certainly isn’t a big server, but has proven at Wimbledon that she doesn’t need to be.
What was once thought of as Eala’s greatest weakness proved to be a key weapon for her during her third-round triumph on Centre Court.
Eala was then asked how she approaches her matches with Swiatek tactically, having taken a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head.
Alex Eala and Iga Swiatek’s head-to-head record (2-1)
- 2026 Wimbledon 3R – Alex Eala defeated Iga Swiatek, 7-6, 6-2
- 2025 Madrid Open 2R – Iga Swiatek defeated Alex Eala, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
- 2025 Miami Open QF – Alex Eala defeated Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5
“I do my best,” she said.
“I think more specifically with Iga, I’m a very aggressive player, so I try to take all the opportunities I can.
“On grass, I kind of try to step in.
“I think that’s the best way I could describe it: try to be brave.
“When I see the opportunity, I go. Yeah, that’s kind of the whole idea of the game that I’ve had.”
Eala executed her game plan to perfection as she defeated last year’s Wimbledon champion in straight sets.
She will need seven more days of perfection, though, if she is to lift the Wimbledon trophy next Saturday…
Who stands between Alex Eala and a first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon?
Next up for Eala is Jasmine Paolini, the 2024 Wimbledon runner-up.
The Filipina will walk on court feeling confident, having beaten Paolini earlier this year at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
There is, however, the risk of Eala feeling the effects of a ‘hangover’ from her third-round win.
Often, when players secure such a big win as Eala did in the third round, their level dips in their following match, even against ‘lesser’ opposition.
The 21-year-old will need to be laser-focused to avoid defeat in round four, but if she can, she’ll secure her place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
There, she would meet Ashlyn Krueger or Marta Kostyuk.
Both players are talented in their own right, but anyone who has watched Eala play on grass this year will know she stands every chance of winning her quarter-final and booking her place in the final four.
In fact, the same could be said about her semi-final match, where Eala could play Madison Keys, Linda Noskova, Marie Bouzkova, or Elise Mertens.
Those listed above are all quality players, although perhaps not the level of opposition you would expect to meet in a Grand Slam semi-final.
She could, however, play the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, in the final.
If she does get that far, Eala may need another miracle to win the title.
But, if Eala has taught us anything since she burst onto the scene, it’s that you should never count her out!
