Alex Eala carved out a place in Philippine tennis history becoming the first Filipina to reach the third round of a Grand Slam after rallying past Maya Joint at Wimbledon, Thursday night (PH Time).

The 21-year-old Eala, ranked No. 32 in the world and seeded 29th in the tournament, overcame a slow start to complete a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory in commanding fashion.

After dropping the opening set, Eala regrouped in the second, tightening her baseline game and outlasting Joint in several extended rallies to seize control. She broke away midway through the set and forced a decider with a 6-2 win.

Eala then dominated the third set, racing to a 4-0 lead and refusing to yield momentum. She closed out the match with a shutout frame, sealing the victory at match point after blanking Joint in the final games.

The match featured multiple momentum swings early, with Joint taking advantage of Eala’s shaky start to claim the first set, 6-3. But Eala responded with composure, surviving long deuce battles and grinding out crucial games to turn the tide.

With the win, Eala advances to the Round of 32, where she will face Polish star Iga Swiatek. The two last met at the 2025 Madrid Open, where Swiatek prevailed in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6.

Eala’s breakthrough run marks a milestone not only in her young career but also for Philippine tennis, as she continues to build momentum on one of the sport’s biggest stages.