![\"LIVE](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/07\/2026-07-04_Wimbledon-Live-3rd-round-Alex-Iga-copy-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Wimbledon 2026 schedule<\/h2>\n
July 4, Saturday<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Centre Court<\/strong><\/p>\n Centre Court. Centre stage. <\/p>\n Alexandra Eala vs Iga Swiatek.#Wimbledon<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8vn1F9SHOx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Iga Swiatek of Poland and Alex Eala of the Philippines meet within the third wound of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. \u2013AP PHOTOS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n MANILA, Philippines \u2014Iga Swiatek expects a \u201cmore tricky\u201d match against Alex Eala once they meet within the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday (Philippine time).<\/p>\n Eala faces the Polish star for the third time in her profession\u2013but for the primary time in a Grand Slam competition and on the grass surface\u2014 where the Filipino tennis ace has been playing her best tennis up to now.<\/p>\n Swiatek, the defending champion, knows the challenge the Filipino rising star poses after Eala reached the third round with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Maya Joint.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t particularly know her game on grass. Obviously, you may watch a little bit bit. But I understand how she plays because we\u2019ve played already. She has a tough game. I can assume on grass that it\u2019s even [trickier] due to surface,\u201d said Swiatek in a press conference.<\/p>\n Alexandra Eala of the Philippines gestures throughout the second round women\u2019s singles match against Maya Joint of Australia on the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026.(AP Photo\/Kin Cheung)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alexandra Eala became the primary player from the Philippines to achieve the third round of a Grand Slam within the Open era, beating Maya Joint in an \u201celectric\u201d atmosphere at Wimbledon on Thursday.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old fought back to defeat Serena Williams\u2019 first-round conqueror Joint 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, roared on by lots of of Filipino spectators on Court Three.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously an incredible thing for me to do this for my country,\u201d she said after booking a last-32 tie with reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually appreciate that I\u2019m capable of share this with the nation, but I believe at the start it makes me super proud due to work that I\u2019ve put in.\u201d<\/p>\n A historic day for Alex Eala \ud83e\udef6 #wimbledon<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/LNdPll6STw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n There was an unmistakably Filipino feel to the small arena on Thursday, and not only provided by her legion of enthusiastic fans waving the Southeast Asian archipelago nation\u2019s flag.<\/p>\n Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates winning the second round women\u2019s singles match against Maya Joint of Australia on the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026.(AP Photo\/Kin Cheung)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The journey continues for Alex Eala\u2014and it’ll undergo a well-known foe on an unfamiliar surface hosting their duel.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old Filipino star heads into Wimbledon\u2019s third round, where she is going to meet defending champion Iga Swiatek, hoping so as to add more days to what has already been a historic stretch for Eala at All-England Club.<\/p>\n The favored left-hander surrendered just two games in the ultimate two sets and took down Maya Joint, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, late Thursday evening (Manila time) within the second round of the grass court Grand Slam.<\/p>\n But things are about to get harder for Eala, already making history as the primary seeded female player from the Philippines to win two games at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n Eala and Swiatek have met twice prior to now, with each splitting those matches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/p>\n \t\t\t <\/p>\n \nRead Next<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS<\/a> to get access to The Philippine Each day Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share as much as 5 gadgets, take heed to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n
LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Iga Swiatek \u2013 Wimbledon third round<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
![\"Iga](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/07\/Alex-eala-iga-swiatek-wimbledon.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/07\/AP26183467896295-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/07\/AP26183521592983-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/landing2017\/images\/ch-like-us.svg\")
<\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/landing2017\/images\/ch-follow-us.svg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nFor feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n