Giant killer

MANILA, Philippines — After a stunning win over world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, Alex Eala is on course to writing another page in Philippine tennis history.

Eala could become the first Filipina to get seeded in a Grand Slam main draw, featuring the world’s Top 32 players leading to the much-awaited Wimbledon on June 29 to July 12.

Eala is No. 31 in the live rankings of the WTA, improving four rungs after barging into the quarterfinals of the WTA500 Berlin Tennis Open yesterday.

Eala, a wild card entry, did it by pulling the rug for under the heavy favorite – 2022 Wimbledon champion and reigning  Australian Open queen Rybakina, 7-5, 6-4, in the Round of 16 to assure herself at least 108 ranking points.

Nikola Bartunkova of Czechia, No. 46, is among the few who have a chance to bump Eala off inside the Top 32 with a quarterfinal stint in Berlin.

Rybakina was the second No. 2 seed Eala has beaten after slaying then second-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland (now No. 3) in the 2025 Miami Open quarterfinals, 6-2, 7-5.

“I’m still shaking and I was shaking on match point, too. But I’m really happy with today, of course. It could have gone either way,” said the teary Eala, who back in the Italian Open was confident in admitting that she made it tougher for Rybakina despite a sweep.

“I think there were really tight moments in both sets, and she’s an amazing player. She’s the one to beat, so I’m happy to have been able to share the court with her again.”