Alex Eala targets Wimbledon quarterfinals, more history for Philippines

The Philippines’ Alex Eala reacts as she plays against Poland’s Iga Swiatek during their women’s singles third round tennis match on the sixth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP)

Alex Eala bids to extend her dream Wimbledon run into the quarterfinals when she faces Jasmine Paolini on Monday.

Jasmine Paolini (No. 13) vs Alexandra Eala (No. 29)

Alex Eala leads head-to-head 1-0

PHOTO: AP / Brian Inganga and Maja Smiejkowska

Eala stunned reigning champion Iga Swiatek with a brilliant straight-sets victory on Centre Court in the third round and now faces the task of backing up that breakthrough triumph against former Wimbledon finalist Paolini.

The 21-year-old has been tipped to become a star of the women’s game since defeating Swiatek to reach the Miami Open semifinals last year.

READ: Alex Eala faces Jasmine Paolini for spot at Wimbledon quarterfinals

She had only won one Grand Slam match before arriving at the All England Club last week, but is now starting to fulfill her promise after becoming the first player from the Philippines to reach the third round of a major in the Open era.

Eala is already the biggest female sports star from the Southeast Asian nation in recent years, despite the successes of men’s boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena on the global stage.

“It’s an honor to be able to pave the way for young girls,” Eala said. “It would be the honor of my life to be able to inspire others. I think inspiration is such a beautiful thing.”

READ: Alex Eala emotional as little kid from PH reached Wimbledon last 16

The wily Paolini will pose a tough test, but the Italian, who lost both the French Open and Wimbledon finals in 2024, knows she is unlikely to be the crowd favorite.

“She’s playing great,” Paolini said of Eala, who enjoys strong support from Filipino fans.

“She has a huge crowd with her. Now on the bridge they were screaming ‘Alex, Alex’. It’s so good for our sport, I think, also to involve more people around the world.”