Alex Eala and Iga Świątek are set to have a trilogy in what appears to be a budding rivalry as they will be facing each other for a third time in the third round of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.
As the two tennis stars prepare to meet for the third time in their careers, it’s worth revisiting their previous encounters.
A Historic Upset for Alex Eala at the 2025 Miami Open
One of the most notable achievements early in Eala’s rise last year was her Cinderella Run at last year’s Miami Open, highlighted by a stunning upset over former world No. 1 Iga Świątek.
The two met in the quarterfinals, where the 19-year-old Filipina secured a 6-2, 7-5 victory to reach her first-ever WTA 1000 semifinal.
Świątek broke serve in the opening game, but Eala responded immediately and seized momentum with fearless baseline play and powerful returns. The Filipina dominated the first set with aggressive shot-making, capitalizing on Świątek’s unforced errors while repeatedly pressuring the Polish star’s serve.
Eala carried that momentum into the second set, building an early 2-0 lead before Świątek fought back to move ahead 4-2. However, the teenager displayed composure beyond her years, storming back to win the final three games and seal the upset with another crucial service break.
It was a groundbreaking moment for Eala, who was ranked world No. 140 at the time and had entered the tournament as a wildcard.
Iga Świątek Gets Her Revenge at the Mutua Madrid Open
The two met again in the Round of 64 at the 2025 WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open. Despite carrying the confidence of having beaten Świątek before, the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate fell short of another upset, losing 6-4, 4-6, 2-6.
Eala once again showed fearlessness, breaking serve early and capturing the opening set with aggressive shot-making and composed play under pressure.
The Quezon City native continued to challenge the defending champion in a tightly contested second set, but Świątek gradually found her rhythm on her favored clay surface and shifted momentum late in the match. The five-time Grand Slam champion dominated the deciding set to complete the comeback after more than two hours on court.
The takeaway from their second meeting: experience and skill can sometimes overpower potential.
A Trilogy at Wimbledon: Can Alex Eala Do It Again?
Now, nearly a year later, the two are set to clash once more. Interestingly, Eala and Świątek have now faced each other on every major surface—hard court, clay, and now grass.
This season, the pride of the Philippines has shown that grass may be the surface that best unlocks her full potential. She holds an impressive 11-3 record on grass, highlighted by her Lexus Birmingham title.
Can Alex Eala defeat Iga Świątek for a second time? Perhaps. But fans should not be surprised if the current world No. 3 emerges victorious—especially as she enters the match as the defending Wimbledon champion.
Alex Eala Next Match
Singles (Third Round)
Alex Eala vs. Iga Swiatek
Tournament: Wimbledon
Date: Saturday, July 4 (Time to be determined.)
