Eala wimby run ends

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala’s magical run ended at the hands of Italian star Jasmine Paolini, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, in the Wimbledon Round of 16 yesterday at Centre Court of the All England Club in London.

The 21-year-old Filipina fell into an early 1-4 hole and ran out of steam down the stretch, exiting a stellar campaign highlighted by a historic 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 upset of dethroned champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek of Poland in the third round.

Seeded No. 29, Eala showed flashes in the middle sets, but it wasn’t enough to escape the 13th-seeded Paolini. The Italian avenged her 6-1, 7-6(5) loss to Eala at the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this year — this time on a far bigger stage.

Paolini was the steadier player when it mattered most. At 3-3 in the decider, she broke in the eighth game and never looked back.

The Olympic doubles gold medalist served relentlessly, landing 70 percent of first serves with just one double fault. Eala, by contrast, faltered late with a string of double faults and unforced errors.

The final game summed it up: Eala surrendered a 30-0 lead after sending a forehand long, allowing Paolini to reel off four straight points for the match. It happened in front of a packed Centre Court crowd that included eight-time champion Roger Federer.

World No. 17 Paolini now moves on to face No. 12 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the quarterfinals. Kostyuk, 24, beat unseeded American Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4 and is enjoying a career year, highlighted by a French Open semifinal run. A good friend of Eala’s off court, she stands between Paolini and a second straight Wimbledon semifinal. The 30-year-old Italian reached the final here in 2024.

Paolini’s win came at the expense of Eala, whose breakout fortnight on grass shifted the global tennis landscape. She met Catherine, Princess of Wales, and stunned reigning champion Swiatek in an upset that drew reactions from Maria Sharapova, Billie Jean King, and even Marvel stars.

It was a landmark campaign for Eala and Philippine tennis.