LONDON — Alex Eala said reaching the Wimbledon women’s singles round of 16 is the biggest achievement of her career after defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek, adding that the milestone fulfills a dream she pursued as a young tennis player growing up in the Philippines.
Eala, 21, defeated the six-time Grand Slam champion, 7-6 (9), 6-2, on Saturday to become the first Filipino to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament at Wimbledon.
Speaking during her on-court interview, an emotional Eala reflected on her journey to the milestone.
“I went to train with my brother and my grandfather every day after school with my ruffled socks, my light-up shoes and chubby cheeks,” Eala said.
She noted that while reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam may seem modest to champions such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Swiatek, it carries a different meaning for someone who grew up in the Philippines.
“To her, this is everything,” Eala said.
Eala will face 13th-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the fourth round on Monday. Paolini advanced after defeating Maria Sakkari, 6-1, 6-2. Eala previously beat Paolini in Dubai earlier this year.
The winner of the match will advance to the quarterfinals to face either Ashlyn Krueger or Marta Kostyuk.
Despite her historic victory, Eala said she remains focused on the tournament.
“Because I am emotional doesn’t mean I am satisfied. OK, next round. Let’s go,” she said.
During her post-match press conference, Eala said she hopes her success encourages more young athletes to pursue the sport.
“It’s an honor to be able to pave the way for young girls. It would be the honor of my life to be able to inspire others,” she said.
Eala added that she wants to use her growing platform while remaining true to her values.
“I try to be as authentic as I can. I believe in being genuine. I believe in my values,” she said.
As she prepares for her fourth-round match, Eala dedicated her run at Wimbledon to Filipinos and to young aspiring tennis players.
“We’re all in this together,” she said, referring to her countrymen and “all the little girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks.”
