Defending champion Iga Swiatek is out of Wimbledon after losing to Alex Eala in the third round.
The Pole, who claimed a maiden title at the All England Club last year, was beaten by Rafael Nadal Academy graduate Eala in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.
The Filipina continues to break new ground at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships and is now the first player from her country, man or woman, to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam.
Alexandra Eala will finish 2026 ranked — in the world
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Swiatek‘s defeat followed the exit of 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, meaning Barbora Krejcikova is the only former Wimbledon winner remaining in the women’s draw.
With Eala’s triumph, she has just achieved something no player has managed on the WTA Tour in over 40 years.
Alex Eala matches Martina Navratilova with victory
According to Opta Ace, Eala is the first left-handed player to defeat the reigning women’s singles champion at Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova in 1982.
Navratilova beat Chris Evert in the final that year to hoist her third Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam trophy overall.
During the grass season, Eala has certainly got to grips with the surface, having played four tune-up tournaments before Wimbledon.
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She won the Birmingham Classic to kick off the swing, briefly featured at Queen’s and made the semifinals at the Berlin Open before appearing at the Bad Homburg Open.
At Wimbledon, Eala won her first-round match in straight sets against Renata Zarazua before overcoming Serena Williams’ conqueror, Maya Joint, in round two.
Prior to her campaign in SW19, Eala’s best result at a Grand Slam was a second-round finish, which she recorded at the 2025 US Open.
Alex Eala’s fourth-round opponent at Wimbledon 2026
In the fourth round of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, Eala will take on 13th seed Jasmine Paolini.
Paolini is a former Wimbledon finalist, having reached the championship match in 2024 before falling to Krejcikova.
The Italian has played Eala just once before, with their sole meeting coming at the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this year.
There, Eala came out on top, winning in straight sets to advance to the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 event.
They will now face off on grass for the first time for a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
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