Alex Eala made another historic moment for Philippine tennis after battling back from a set down to defeat Australia’s Maya Joint, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the second round of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships on Thursday night.
After previously beating Renata Zarazua in the first round, Eala had to overcome a difficult opening stretch before completely taking over the match against the Australian.
Maya Joint Dominates Alex Eala in the Opening Set
Joint immediately applied pressure from the baseline and broke Eala in the opening game to seize early momentum. The 20-year-old Aussie used aggressive forehands and sharp shot-making to repeatedly force errors from the Filipina, who struggled to find rhythm in the opening set.
Although Eala stayed within striking distance at 4-3, Joint continued to dictate play with powerful winners and consistent serving. The Australian eventually secured another crucial break while Eala served to stay alive in the set, closing out the opener after just 35 minutes.
At that stage, Joint appeared firmly in control after outplaying Eala from the baseline and capitalizing on the Filipina’s unforced errors.
Momentum Swings for Alex Eala
The match completely shifted in the second set. The world No. 32 Filipina began attacking more confidently, using deeper returns and longer rallies to force mistakes from the world No. 53.
After holding serve with the help of consecutive aces, the 21-year-old Filipina earned her first break of the match to move ahead 3-1. From there, her confidence grew rapidly.
The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate controlled exchanges from the baseline while Joint’s consistency began to fade under pressure. Another service break in the seventh game allowed Eala to build a commanding lead before she calmly served out the set with a brilliant counter-drop shot.
The comeback had suddenly become a one-set battle, and all the momentum belonged to the Filipina.
Alex Eala Completes Stunning Finish in Third Set
The deciding set featured several grueling games early, particularly in the first and third games where multiple deuces tested both players physically and mentally. The Quezon City native, however, showed tremendous composure and resilience during the marathon exchanges.
She converted key break points to build a 3-0 advantage before completely overwhelming Joint with relentless pressure and steady groundstrokes. The Australian struggled to recover as Eala dictated nearly every rally and continued attacking from both wings.
The Filipina eventually raced through the final set without dropping a game, completing a dominant 6-0 shutout in one hour and 58 minutes.
Even when Joint threatened late in the final game with a 40-30 lead, Eala stayed composed and capitalized on crucial Australian errors to seal the victory.
A Historic Second Round Victory
The victory sent the 21-year-old Filipina into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, making her the first Filipino player in the Open Era to reach that stage in any major tournament.
It also served as redemption for Eala, who suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Joint in the 2025 Eastbourne Open final just over a year ago.
Awaiting the No. 29 seed in the third round is defending Wimbledon champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek in what promises to be another blockbuster showdown at the All England Club.
Alex Eala Next Match
Singles (Third Round)
Alex Eala vs. Iga Swiatek
Tournament: Wimbledon
Date: Saturday, July 4 (Time to be determined.)
