Wimbledon: Iga Swiatek ousted by Alexa Eala in third-round upset
Defending champion Iga Swiatek has been eliminated from Wimbledon by Filipina rising star Alexa Eala, losing 7-6(9) 6-2 in the third round.
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Defending champion Iga Swiatek has been knocked out of Wimbledon, losing 7-6(9) 6-2 to Filipina player Alexa Eala in the third round. The match, played at the All England Club, marked a major upset as the third-seeded Pole failed to advance past the early stages of the grass-court tournament.
Swiatek, 25, struggled to find rhythm against the 20-year-old Eala, who delivered a composed performance under pressure. According to Timeslive, the match unfolded as a 'fierce gladiatorial battle' before Eala sealed victory in straight sets. The result ends Swiatek’s title defense and adds to a challenging season following a disappointing last-16 exit at the French Open, where she is a four-time champion.
Ranked outside the top 100, Eala’s victory marks her most significant career win to date. Her aggressive baseline play and composure in key moments unsettled Swiatek, particularly in the first-set tiebreak, which lasted nine points. 'Swiatek’s Wimbledon title defence went up in smoke,' Timeslive reported.
The loss continues a turbulent run for Swiatek on the 2026 grass season, as she seeks to regain the form that has made her a dominant force on clay. Eala, meanwhile, advances to the fourth round, drawing widespread attention for her breakthrough performance.
Swiatek's early exit was confirmed by Vanguard News, which noted her inability to recover from recent setbacks. 'The 25-year-old Swiatek failed to bounce back from a disappointing last-16 defeat at the French Open,' the outlet reported.