Young Eala worsens Swiatek's ranking decline: 'I need to work, I'm not at the level'

Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala's voice trembled with emotion as she secured the most significant victory of her young career, defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek. The 21-year-old Eala, who trains at Rafael Nadal's academy, has made history as the first player from the Philippines, male or female, to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Eala celebrated her 7-6(9), 6-2 win, which lasted 2 hours and 14 minutes, with tears of joy. "Maybe for someone like Iga (6), Serena (23) or Venus (7), who have won so many Grand Slams, this might seem small... But for someone who grew up in my country, this is very important," she stated. Eala, currently ranked 32nd in the world, had previously shown her potential by reaching the semifinals in Miami last season.

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Maybe for someone like Iga (6), Serena (23) or Venus (7), who have won so many Grand Slams, this might seem small... But for someone who grew up in my country, this is very important.

In contrast, Swiatek appeared visibly disheartened. The former dominant player has struggled to regain her top form, experiencing a downturn since her peak. Despite consulting with her idol Rafael Nadal earlier in the spring, her results have remained inconsistent. Following her early exit from Roland Garros and a string of modest performances since hiring new coach Francis Roig, this defeat marks another setback.

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You just have to keep going and not focus so much on the results, but trust the process.

Swiatek's loss to Eala, who had her right thigh bandaged, was marked by 44 unforced errors, 23 more than her opponent. Eala's tactical play proved too much for Swiatek, and the defeat carries significant ranking consequences. Swiatek is set to lose 1,870 points, dropping her from the top five to at least sixth in the WTA rankings, with potential for a further decline depending on other players' performances.

Despite the disappointment, Swiatek remains hopeful, telling reporters, "You just have to keep going and not focus so much on the results, but trust the process." She particularly lamented that Eala was "braver in the important moments" and acknowledged her own struggles with Eala's slow serves, which she found more difficult to return than normal serves.

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It's much more difficult to return a serve like that than a normal one. Normally the speed is very different.