Alex Eala becomes first Filipino to reach Wimbledon fourth round

Alexandra "Alex" Eala, a 21‑year‑old left‑handed tennis player from the Philippines, made history at Wimbledon 2026 by becoming the first Filipino to advance to the fourth round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era. She upset defending champion Iga Świątek 7‑6(9), 6‑2 in the third round before falling to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6‑4, 4‑6, 6‑3 in the round of 16.

Following her Wimbledon run, Eala was honored with a Presidential Citation at Malacañang Palace on 13 July 2026, where President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos recognized her achievement. The milestone sparked a surge of national enthusiasm for tennis, prompting watch parties across the Philippines and heightened media attention.