Alex Eala earns praise from idol Sharapova; meets Kate Middleton

Alex Eala's dream run at Wimbledon continues after she edged out reigning champ Iga Swiatek on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in London.

The 21-year-old Alex pulled off a 7-6(9), 6-2 victory to become the first Filipino to reach the fourth round of the prestigious tennis tournament.

Currently ranked No. 32 in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association), she is well-positioned to climb higher with a strong run in the upcoming rounds.

“Maybe for someone like Iga, who’s won so many [Grand] Slams or someone like Serena or Venus [Williams], this achievement may seem small. But for someone who grew up in the Philippines..." an emotional Alex said in the post-game interview.

Alex's next opponent will be former finalist and No. 13 Jasmine Paolini from Italy.

The two are scheduled to face off on Monday, July 6 (Philippine time).

REACTIONS TO ALEX EALA'S HISTORIC STINT

For months, Alex has been one of tennis's biggest stories, and her impressive Wimbledon run only reinforces the growing belief that she is among the sport’s brightest young stars, poised to become its next global face.

Wimbledon's Instagram account posted a clip of the moment Alex secured the win against Iga, putting the caption: "Alex Eala is the moment."

The post was flooded with likes and comments, including from Filipino celebrities who congratulated Alex for making history.

Among those who left comments were Ryan Agoncillo, Janine Gutierrez, Drew Arellano, Anne Curtis, Dimples Romana, and Eugene Domingo.

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao also gave props to Alex by simply leaving a Philippine flag and raising hands emojis in the comments section of the post.

"Tito passing on the torch," a netizen wrote about Manny's reaction.

Another netizen beamed: "the champ recognizes."

PRAISE FROM A LEGEND AND MEETING THE PRINCESS OF WALES

But one comment that really caught everyone’s attention, especially among avid fans of the sport, came from tennis former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova.

Interestingly, Maria has long been Alex's idol, often citing the Russian champion as one of her biggest role models.

In fact, there's a photo of a very young Alex posing with Maria, a moment that now serves as a reminder of just how far the young star has come.

"I was probably five when I first saw her. She was always dressed nicely, she was loved by everyone, and I wasn’t an exception," Alex told Spin.ph in an interview last year.

Alex said she admired Maria's playing style, her mentality on the court, and the way she carried herself.

Meanwhile, another memorable moment for Alex in London was meeting Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, who dropped by at the tournament on July 2.

"So honoured to have grabbed a pic with Her Royal Highness," Alex shared on Instagram Stories.

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