Filipina tennis star Alex Eala saw her historic Wimbledon campaign come to an end after falling to Italian Jasmine Paolini, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, in the fourth round on Monday evening, July 6, 2026 (Philippine time) in London.
Eala's Upset Run Stops Short
Eala, 21, entered the match as a fan favorite after stunning defending champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek of Poland in the third round of the world's most prestigious tennis tournament. She had also previously defeated Paolini in their first encounter in the round of 32 at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.
However, Paolini turned the tables this time, taking control early in the first set. The Italian built a 4-1 lead before Eala rallied with two consecutive wins to close the gap to 4-3. The two players then traded games, but Paolini ultimately secured the first set 6-4.
Eala Fights Back in Second Set
In the second set, Eala came out more aggressively and built a 5-3 lead. Paolini won one more game, but Eala ensured the match went to a third set by closing out the set 6-4.
Deciding Set Slips Away
The third set was a tense affair, with both players locked at 3-3 after six games. However, Eala's game began to falter, and she committed a double fault on her serve. Paolini seized the opportunity, winning three consecutive games to close out the match 6-3.
Despite the loss, Eala's run to the fourth round marked the deepest Wimbledon appearance by a Filipina player in history, drawing praise from fans and analysts worldwide.
