Matagumpay na lumusot nina defending champion Iga Swiatek ng Poland at No. 29 seed Alexandra Eala ng Pilipinas nitong Huwebes upang itakda ang inaabangang paghaharap sa ikatlong round ng Wimbledon sa London.
Inabot lamang ng 70 minuto ang panalo ng world No. 3 na si Swiatek kontra sa dating world No. 1 na si Karolina Pliskova ng Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-1.
Samantala, nagpakita ng matinding determinasyon si Eala nang bumangon mula sa isang set na pagkakaiwan at talunin si Maya Joint ng Australia, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Naipaghiganti ni Eala ang kanyang pagkatalo kay Joint sa Eastbourne final sa England noong 2025.
Nakatawag pansin ang burdadong mensahe sa likod ng puting sumbrero ni Eala: “Kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto.”
Sa Ingles, ang ibig sabihin nito ay: Once it grows, it cannot be stopped.
Dagdag ito sa kapana-panabik na kampanya ni Eala bilang unang Pilipina na nakapasok sa ikatlong round ng isang Grand Slam sa Open Era.
Noong Nobyembre, siya rin ang naging unang manlalarong Pilipino na nakapasok sa top 50 ng Women’s Tennis Association rankings.
“It sounds super impactful,” ani Eala tungkol sa pagpasok sa third round. “It’s an amazing thing for me to be able to do that for my country, but I guess it’s also very emotional every time I’m able to pass a new step or break new ground, just because it’s also personal goals and personal achievements.”
Maghaharap sina Swiatek at Eala sa Sabado sa ikatlong pagkakataon, ngunit ito ang kanilang unang laban sa grass court. Tabla sa tig-isang panalo ang kanilang head-to-head record na ginanap sa magka-ibang playing surface.
“I think it’s going to be tough for me,” ani Eala sa media interview. “I’m going to try to make it tough for her, as well. It’s a different surface than we’ve played before, so I think there should definitely be some different aspects to the last time. She’s won a Slam on grass. She’s won a Slam on clay. She’s won a slam on hard so I’m expecting a great challenge.”
Hindi malilimutan ang unang panalo ni Eala laban kay Swiatek sa quarterfinals ng Miami Open noong 2025, kung saan nagwagi ang noo’y world No. 140 at teenage wild card, 6-2, 7-5. Tinapos ni Jessica Pegula ng Amerika ang pangarap ni Eala sa semifinals.
Makalipas ang mahigit isang buwan, nakabawi si Swiatek sa Mutua Madrid Open sa Espanya, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, sa second round. Umabot sa finals si Swiatek ngunit natalo kay Coco Gauff ng Amerika.
“I don’t particularly know her game on grass,” ani Swiatek. “Obviously I can watch a little bit. I know how she plays because we played already.”
“She has a tricky game. I can assume that on grass it’s even more tricky because of the surface. For sure, she’s using her strengths, the change of rhythm and everything. It will be a good challenge for me because she doesn’t give that rhythm,” dagdag ni Swiatek.