Jasmine Paolini defeated Alex Eala 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the Wimbledon Round of 16 on Centre Court on July 6, 2026. The Italian player advanced to the quarterfinals after a competitive three-set match.
Paolini, a former Wimbledon finalist from 2024, took the first set 6-4. She broke Eala’s serve at important times and held her own service games to stay ahead. Eala, the 21 year old Filipino player, responded in the second set. She broke Paolini and won the set 6-4 to even the match at one set each.
The deciding set stayed close early on. Both players had break point chances. Paolini found more consistency in the later games and broke Eala to take a lead she would not give back. She closed out the set 6-3 to win the match.
Eala had reached this stage after a big upset over defending champion Iga Swiatek in the previous round. Her run marked the first time a player from the Philippines reached the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam in the Open Era. She fought hard against Paolini but could not maintain the momentum from the second set into the third.
Paolini showed her experience on grass courts. She stayed patient and capitalized on opportunities in the final set. After the win, she thanked Roger Federer, who was watching from the Royal Box.
The match lasted just over two hours. It featured strong baseline rallies and several service breaks. Paolini converted enough key points to move forward in the tournament.
This result ends Eala’s strong Wimbledon campaign. She gained valuable experience and raised her profile with the win over Swiatek and this performance against a top player. Paolini, ranked around No. 17, now has another chance to go deep at the All England Club.
Paolini will face Marta Kostyuk in the quarterfinals. Kostyuk earlier defeated Ashlyn Krueger in straight sets. The Italian player enters the next round with solid form on the grass surface.