Alexandra Eala and Elise Mertens caused major upsets at Wimbledon on Saturday, July 4, 2026, by eliminating top-seeded players Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina in the third round.
Filipino player Alexandra Eala, ranked 32nd by the WTA, defeated Polish defending champion and third seed Iga Swiatek.
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The 21-year-old secured her victory in straight sets with a score of 7-6 (9), 6-2.
According to reports from nos. nl, Eala had never won a main tournament match at Wimbledon before this edition.
However, she previously demonstrated her grass-court capabilities by winning in Birmingham this year and reaching the Eastbourne final in 2025.
During the first set, both competitors remained evenly matched.
After both players earned multiple set points during a highly contested tiebreak, the Filipino athlete ultimately prevailed before carrying that momentum forward to secure the match victory.
Rybakina Also Exits Early
In another third-round match, world number two Elena Rybakina also suffered an early exit from the tournament.
The Kazakhstani player was defeated by Elise Mertens of Belgium in straight sets, finishing 7-6 (4), 6-1.
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Rybakina, who previously won the Wimbledon title in 2022, had the potential to claim the top world ranking with a strong performance in London.
However, she failed to display her best form throughout this tournament.
Mertens initially faced difficulties during the opening stages of the match.
The Belgian player gained momentum as Rybakina encountered increasing difficulties with her service games as the match progressed.
Mertens managed to secure a break point advantage twice during the first set but could not hold it.
She ultimately capitalized on her opportunities during the tiebreak to win the set.
In the second set, Mertens advanced rapidly to establish a commanding 5-1 lead.
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Although nerves affected her performance while serving for the match, she saved four break points and finished with an ace.
