Iga Swiatek knocked out, Rybakina also falls at Wimbledon

Reigning champion Iga Swiatek was eliminated from Wimbledon in the third round on Saturday as Alexandra Eala made history for the Philippines with a straight-sets win on Centre Court.

Eala won a tense first set that lasted 84 minutes, then powered to a 7-6 (11/9), 6-2 victory over a shocked Swiatek, moving on to the last 16.

"It’s difficult to describe. I’m in the second week of a Slam and it’s incredible for me," said Eala.

This loss marks Swiatek’s earliest exit from a major tournament since she lost in the third round to Yulia Putintseva at Wimbledon two years ago.

The 21-year-old Eala is the first player from the Philippines to reach the third round of a Grand Slam event in the Open era, after beating Maya Joint on Thursday.

Eala was not intimidated by facing six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, claiming her second win in three encounters against the Polish third seed.

"I’m really emotional and maybe for someone like Iga who has won so many Slams, or someone like Serena or Venus (Williams), this achievement might seem small," Eala said.

"But for someone who grew up in the Philippines… I trained with my mother and my grandfather every day after school with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks… so for her this is everything."

Eala, who had only won one match at a Slam before this week, will next face former runner-up Jasmine Paolini on Monday.

She aims to become the first player from the Philippines to reach a singles Grand Slam quarter-final since Felicisimo Ampon at the 1953 French Open.

Eala received loud support from her Filipino fans on the outside courts during the first two rounds, and she continued to impress in a less supportive atmosphere on Centre Court against Swiatek.

Swiatek could not recover from a disappointing last-16 defeat at the French Open, where she has won four times.

She made 44 unforced errors and struggled to regain her focus after missing two set points in a first-set tiebreak.

Eala took a 5-3 lead but could not serve out the opener, missing one set point.

Both players lost chances in a high-quality tiebreak, before Eala took the lead on her fourth set point when Swiatek sent a backhand long.

Eala quickly took control of the second set, racing to a 4-0 lead against her stunned opponent.

Swiatek fought hard to break back but fell behind 5-2 after making two double faults in a sloppy service game.

Eala finished the match in a tense final game, saving four break points before securing the biggest win of her career on her third match point.

She fell to the ground in celebration after hitting a forehand winner, crying tears of joy as Swiatek left the court quickly.

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina also faced a shock third-round exit, losing 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 to Elise Mertens on Saturday.

Rybakina wanted to follow her Australian Open win in January with another title at Wimbledon.

But the world number two could not repeat her 2022 success at the All England Club as Belgian 25th seed Mertens pulled off an upset on Court One.

Rybakina, 27, had also exited early from the last French Open, losing to Yuliia Starodubtseva in the second round.

The Russia-born Kazakhstani, who beat Ons Jabeur to win Wimbledon four years ago, has not gone past the third round in her last two visits to London.

But Rybakina is not letting this loss ruin her season.

"I just try to move on. I mean, I lost so many times. I’m sure I’m still going to keep losing. It’s impossible to win everything," she said.

"Not the result I wanted today. Definitely not happy. I’m of course upset, but it’s not going to take more than one, two days."

Rybakina plans to review her game closely before the hard-court swing that ends with the US Open.

"If I knew why, I wouldn’t be in this situation right now. As soon as it happened a couple weeks ago when I was not playing my best, honestly, I don’t know," she said.

"I was getting a lot of opportunities since I was losing early in the tournaments. Definitely I need to analyse and change something, because it’s not working.

"Now it’s going to be at least for a longer period of time the same surface, and it’s kind of one of the last pushes of the year.

"First, I’m looking forward to change a little bit the scenario and just rest."

Mertens is a two-time Wimbledon doubles champion and has reached the last 16 in singles at the All England Club four times.

She will play Czech 21st seed Marie Bouzkova for a chance to reach the quarter-finals.

"Definitely one of my most memorable wins, especially against her here at Wimbledon," Mertens said.

"Looking back on my previous results on grass this year, it was a little bit of a mixed feelings.

"I really grew into the match. Also especially my last match, also grew into that match. That gave me a little bit of confidence.

I soaked it all in today on Court One. It’s a beautiful court to play at."