Alex Eala reaches world No.28 after historic Wimbledon round‑of‑16 run

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala became the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam in the Open era when she advanced to the Wimbledon round of 16 in 2026, upsetting defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round. After a loss to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, her performances – including a semi‑final in Berlin – lifted her world ranking four spots to a career‑high No. 28.

Eala highlighted ongoing work on her serve, noting that even extensive preparation does not guarantee a perfect performance. She described writing a game‑plan notebook before matches and managing hydration and nutrition during changeovers. Her Wimbledon run has drawn significant attention at home and abroad, including a meeting with the Princess of Wales, and marks a milestone for Philippine tennis.