Tennis: Alex Eala's Wimbledon campaign ends with loss to Italy's Paolini

MANILA, July 7 ------ Alex Eala's historic Wimbledon campaign came to an end with a three-set loss to Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round in London. Paolini recovered from a letdown in the second set to oust Eala, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and set-up a quarter-final showdown against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.

The 21-year-old Eala had been bidding to become the first player from the Philippines to reach a singles Grand Slam quarter-final since Felicisimo Ampon at the 1953 French Open. Her journey was halted by Paolini, however, as the Italian veteran instead progressed to the last eight with a hard-earned triumph in a match that went the distance. "You know stepping on this court is something special, and I was looking forward to it. Thank you because here, there's an amazing atmosphere," Paolini said after the match, highlighting the presence of tennis icon Roger Federer in the royal box. "I would like to thank everybody who is here. You make this tournament so special. I don't know, it's an amazing feeling to be here right now with the win," she added.

World No. 17 Paolini was the Wimbledon runner-up in 2024, losing to Barbora Krejčíková in the final. She entered this year's tournament as the 13th seed. Eala had beaten the Italian veteran in their previous encounter, pulling off a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) victory in the round-of-32 of the Dubai Tennis Championships in February. But Paolini exacted payback at Wimbledon, reeling off three straight games to break a 1-1 deadlock in the opening set and take control, 4-1. Eala finally held in the sixth game to get back on track, but Paolini rebounded immediately, battling through three deuces in the seventh for a 5-2 lead.

Eala held serve then benefited from Paolini's errors to draw closer, 5-4, but the Italian held her nerve in closing out the set, breaking Eala in the tenth game. A more aggressive Eala returned the favor in the second set. On her serve in the seventh game, Paolini was undone by three straight errors to hand the Filipina a 4-3 advantage that she would not squander.

Eala still needed to weather a last charge by Paolini, who held her serve to close at 5-4. In the ensuing game, the Italian dumped a forehand into the net to give Eala two set points; Eala muffed a forehand in the ensuing rally to give Paolini a chance. But she could not complete the comeback, sending her own forehand long to allow Eala to force a decider. They would go toe-to-toe in the deciding set, exchanging holds until the seventh game wherein Paolini took a 4-3 lead.

Eala then faltered on her serve, with a double fault handing Paolini a break point and a wayward backhand putting her Italian foe on the brink. Paolini did not waste the chance, holding serve in the next game to put the finishing touches on the win. It was a confidence-boosting result for Paolini, who had endured a topsy-turvy 2026 campaign that saw her drop out of the top 10. "There were tough moments, but we kept working with my team," she said. "Match by match, I'm feeling better."

Despite her exit, it was a Wimbledon campaign to remember for Eala, who made Philippine sporting history on Saturday with a sensational 7-6 (11/9), 6-2 victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round. The 21-year-old showed no fear of the moment, outlasting Swiatek in an 84-minute first set and holding her nerve in the second to progress to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time ever. It was her second win over Swiatek, having beaten the Pole during her breakout campaign in the Miami Open in March 2025.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com