Iga \u015awi\u0105tek’s title defence at Wimbledon ended in emotional scenes thanks to a 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 third-round loss to 21-year-old Alexandra Eala, who continues to make history for the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Eala is the first Filipino player, male or female, to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament on a day of upsets in the women’s draw.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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,” said the 29th-seeded Eala, who saved two set points in the first-set tiebreaker.<\/p>\n
The third-seeded \u015awi\u0105tek earned her first Wimbledon women’s title a year ago when she beat Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the final.<\/p>\n
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, which included an upset of \u015awi\u0105tek.<\/p>\n
She next faces 13th-seeded Jasmine Paolini for a spot in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
2022 champion Rybakina also out<\/p>\n
Shortly before \u015awi\u0105tek’s exit, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina was upset in the third round by Elise Mertens 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.<\/p>\n
At number two, Rybakina is the highest seed on the women’s side to be eliminated. Her loss ensures that Aryna Sabalenka, who faces Naomi Osaka in the fourth round tonight AEST, will keep her number one ranking after the tournament.<\/p>\n
Belgium’s Mertens is the number 25 seed at Wimbledon, where she has won two doubles titles. She will next face 21st-seeded Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n