Alex Eala has made Filipino tennis history at Wimbledon.
Eala, the 29th seed in south-west London, became the first Filipino in tennis history to reach the third round of a Grand Slam singles event after beating Maya Joint.
Eala avenged her loss to Joint in the 2025 Eastbourne Open final, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 on Court Three.
Who will reach the fourth round of Wimbledon – Alex Eala or Iga Swiatek?
What a match this could be!
The Filipina, 21, has set up an enticing match against defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round.
Venus Williams, who recently competed alongside Eala in doubles, has sent the Filipina a message following her historic triumph on Thursday.
Venus Williams congratulates Alex Eala on her historic Wimbledon victory
“Congrats to my other doubles partner Alex Eala for making history,” Venus said in a post on her Instagram story.
The message was accompanied by a video of Eala’s winning moment from Thursday afternoon.
“Yeah, I really had to dig deep, especially after that first set,” Eala said on court after her victory.
“Like you said, Maya came out on fire, she came out ready, and, um, I was expecting a really good match, of course. We’ve competed in some very good conditions before, so I was prepared for a good match.
“She obviously is coming off an amazing win. I watched it, and, you know, I think she played really well, handled herself really well in that situation. So, congratulations to Maya.”
Alex Eala’s Wimbledon results to date
- 2025 R1: lost to Barbora Krejcikova, 6-3, 2-6, 1-6
- 2026 R1: defeated Renata Zarazua 6-2, 6-1
- 2026 R2: defeated Maya Joint 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
- 2026 R3: will play Iga Swiatek
Eala and Venus competed alongside one another in the Bad Homburg Open doubles event earlier this month.
The duo won their first match, beating Alexandra Osborne and Catherine Harrison 6-3, 6-4.
The blockbuster duo were then defeated by second seeds Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova, 3-6, 2-6.
Alex Eala comments on the ‘challenge’ of prioritising herself while attempting to make Filipinos proud
Durin Eala’s post-match press conference, the Filipina was asked a pertinent question.
“Given how much you are representing your country and so many people take pride off your results, is it ever kind of a challenge to make sure that you prioritize yourself and that your personal goals are No. 1 for you?” one reporter asked.
“Yes. Well, my personal goals have always been my priority, right?,” Eala replied. “This is my journey. I’m happy to be able to share it with everyone who wants to take part.
“But I think one of the biggest things that makes it natural and easier to handle is that it’s genuine. So my whole story is very genuine. It’s very close to my heart.
What is the best win of Alexandra Eala’s career so far? 🤔
Iga Swiatek in Miami, Clara Tauson at the US Open, Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, or a different match?
“I’m not trying to be anyone who I’m not. I’m not trying to stray from my values.
“So I think that makes it easier for me to carry myself, and for me to, you know, handle these situations.
“You know, there’s pressure in everyday life, and even more so as a competitive athlete.
“I think in that regard, everybody, all of you guys probably, you know, you have had to find your way to work around pressure.
“So it’s no different with me, yeah.”
Eala can now look ahead to a enticing contest against world number three Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek, who defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in last year’s Wimbledon final, was famously beaten by Eala at the 2025 Miami Open.
The duo have played against each other once more since then, with Swiatek emerging victorious at the 2025 Madrid Open.
