TENNIS: Alex Eala beats defending champion Iga Swiatek, moves to Wimbledon round of 16

Alex Eala's Wimbledon run is at full speed as she pulled a massive upset against world number three and defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland in straight sets  7(11)-6(9), 6-2 on Saturday, July 4. Eala will advance to the round of 16.

Eala raced to score 5-3 in the first set. With Eala at set point, Swiatek forced the game to deuce and win it for 5-4. The former number one crawled her way back to score 5-5.

The epic set reached 6-6 to warrant a tie breaker. Both players scored back and forth until Eala broke Swiatek at 11-9 to win the set. Swiatek trailed Eala in the second set at 0-4 before scoring the next two games at 2-4. Eala closed the game, set and match at 6-2.

The 21-year-old displayed remarkable tactical adaptability and control over nerves as she fought back from a set down in the second round, switching to swift moves to the net to snatch victory over Maya Joint.

Swiatek said prior to her match with  Eala, "She has a tricky game. I can assume that on grass it's even more tricky because of the surface ... she doesn't give that rhythm. I will need to be ready for different kinds of shots." 

Eala, the first player from the Philippines to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era, said before the match that she was ready for the challenge of facing Swiatek again.

"I think it's going to be tough for me. I'm going to try to make it tough for her, as well ... I'm ready to face it head on," Eala said before facing Swiatek.

Eala defeated Swiatek in their first meeting at last year's Miami Open in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Swiatek then evened the head-to-head a month later in the Madrid Open 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The world number 32 dominated Mexico's Renata Zarazua in the first round and Joint in the second round, avenging her finals loss last year in the Eastbourne Open.

Riz Pulumbarit/Paraluman News