07/04/26 10:32:00
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07/04 10:31 CDT Alexandra Eala upsets defending champion Iga Swiatek at
Wimbledon in win for Philippines
Alexandra Eala upsets defending champion Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon in win for
Philippines
By KEN MAGUIRE
AP Sports Writer
LONDON (AP) --- Iga Swiatek's title defense at Wimbledon ended Saturday in a
7-6 (9), 6-2 third-round loss to 21-year-old Alexandra Eala, who continues to
make history for the Philippines.
Eala is the first Filipino player, male or female, to reach the fourth round of
a Grand Slam singles tournament.
The left-handed Eala dropped to her knees and rolled onto her back on Centre
Court after hitting a forehand winner on her third match point.
"It's incredible to have my countrymen cheering me on and knowing that we're
all in this together," she said in an on-court interview as she looked around
at the Philippines flags.
"This goes out to them, this goes out to my family, this goes out to all the
little girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks. It means the world," she
said.
Swiatek earned her first Wimbledon women's title a year ago when she beat
Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
Eala, who has trained in Mallorca at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy, gained
worldwide support last year on her breakthrough run to the Miami Open
semifinals.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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