Philippines’ Alexandra Eala returns to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua during their women’s singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2026. AFP

Alex Eala collected a milestone—for herself and for the country—with her victory at Wimbledon. She also earned something else: A shot at redemption.

Fresh off her first main-draw win at the All England Club, Eala will face Maya Joint in the second round of the Wimbledon Championships, a rematch of a showdown that produced one of the most unforgettable defeats of her young career.

The two last met in the 2025 Eastbourne Open final, where Eala came within a point of claiming her first WTA title before Joint rallied to deny her despite the Filipino ace holding four championship points. The defeat stung, but it also marked history as Eala became the first female player from the Philippines to reach a WTA singles final.

“A really great match,” Eala recalled after her Wimbledon opener. “I’d love to have the chance to improve on some things that I could have improved from that match.”

A year later, much has changed.

Eala has continued her steady climb on the WTA Tour, rising to a career-high No. 29 and arriving at Wimbledon as the tournament’s 29th seed—her first appearance as a seeded player at a Grand Slam. Joint, meanwhile, slipped outside the Top 80 after battling a back injury earlier this season.

Serena’s conqueror

Still, rankings offer little comfort against an opponent Eala knows can thrive on the biggest stages.

Joint opened her Wimbledon campaign with an eye-catching victory over Serena Williams in a three-set battle, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3, on Centre Court, serving notice that she remains a dangerous contender.

Eala earned her place in the rematch with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, collecting her first career Wimbledon main-draw win after exiting in the opening round in her debut last year.

“I’m very happy with my first round,” Eala said in an interview with the WTA website. “I think that I played really well and kept the intensity throughout the whole match, so I’m hoping to keep this momentum going throughout the week.”

Against Zarazua, the Filipina weathered several extended rallies before reeling off five consecutive games to seize the opening set. Backed by a vocal Filipino contingent, she carried that momentum into the second set, breaking early and never allowing her former doubles partner to mount a sustained comeback.

Aryna Sabalenka has responded strongly to comments made by her first-round opponent Teodora Kostovic at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, with the Belarusian also coming under criticism from some fans for her own reaction to the situation. The World No. 1 spoke after her win over McCartney Kessler secured her place in the third round.

Before their opening-round clash on Monday, Kostovic had expressed confidence ahead of the match, saying she wanted to “see if Sabalenka can deal with my power” and backing herself to cause an upset. However, the Belarusian proved too strong on the day, winning 6-2, 6-3.

Following the match, Aryna Sabalenka was asked again in her post-match press conference about Kostovic’s pre-match remarks and gave a firm response:

“I think it was more like she was trying to trick herself and she was just trying to boost that self belief that she actually didn’t have. Sometimes you have to really fake it til you make it. Sometimes you have to stay grounded and be real and work with what you have.”

“So for me that message was a bit.. I would understand if it would be reasonable. But like I went in the match and was like… ‘Which power was she talking about?’ Sometimes it works if you actually have that self belief. If you’re just trying to fake it and you don’t actually believe in it, it’s not gonna work,” she added.

Fans were quick to take to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Aryna Sabalenka, with one user writing:

“She is World no 1. She should be empowering female players and giving them confidence and instead – she is making fun of them calling them fake. What a shame. Worst No. 1.”

“Damn!!!! 💔💔 this’s so bad from her.. a leader, a number 1; you should be motivating the rising stars, the young players not spitting venomous savage on them, this’s absolutely disappointing message from a supposed-to-be professional idol,” another wrote.

“Oh Aryna give us a breakkkk woman you won you’re World No. 1. RELAX, ….SHE’S 18. Literally let the kid be … it’s not that deep,” one account posted.

“Narcissistic Projection right here,” another added.

“Rybakina has to be a new number one. She would never say such stupid and arrogant to other tennis players,” one fan commented.

Aryna Sabalenka set to face off against Jelena Ostapenko in Wimbledon 2026 3R

Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the third round of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships after defeating Teodora Kostovic and McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6(9). She is now set to face Jelena Ostapenko in the next round, with the Latvian coming in off solid wins over Harriet Dart and Antonia Ruzic.

If Sabalenka gets past Ostapenko, she could face Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, followed by a potential quarterfinal clash with Karolina Muchova. Jessica Pegula may await her in the semifinals, while Elena Rybakina or defending champion Iga Swiatek could emerge as possible final opponents.