Eala-Swiatek rubber on grass

MANILA, Philippines — Already in a slew of uncharted territories for Philippine tennis, Alex Eala now stares at her biggest peak yet.

For the third time in her young career – but the first on a Grand Slam stage – the 21-year-old Eala crosses paths with defending champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek of Poland Saturday for a seat in Wimbledon’s Round of 16.

History is already in Eala’s pocket.

She’s the first Filipina ever seeded in a Slam at No. 29. The first Filipina winner in a Slam main draw. And after ousting Maya Joint in Round 2, the first Filipino – man or woman – to reach the singles Round of 32 in the Open Era.

But she’s showing no signs of stopping – even if it means toppling Swiatek, 25, who authored her own history last year with the first double-bagel Slam final, a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Amanda Anisimova for her 100th major win.

Eala knows it’s a moonshot. She’s taking aim anyway.

“Iga has won a Slam on grass, on clay, on hard. I’m expecting a great challenge,” said Eala, a fellow Rafael Nadal Academy graduate. “It’s going to be tough for me. I’m going to try to make it tough for her, too.”

It’s their rubber match.

Eala, then a wildcard qualifier, stunned then-world No. 2 Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, in the Miami Open quarterfinals for the greatest run by a Filipina in WTA 1000 history. Swiatek hit back a month later in Madrid, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

This time, it’s grass. Uncharted for both in their rivalry.

“I don’t particularly know her game on grass,” Swiatek admitted. “She has a tricky game. On grass it’s even more tricky because of the surface. She doesn’t give you rhythm.”

Swiatek knows the Filipina juggernaut won’t come alone – a legion of flag-waving Pinoys has turned Court 3 into Manila.

Eala arrives with a 9-3 grass record, a Birmingham title, and a Berlin semifinal where she toppled No. 2 Elena Rybakina and No. 8 Elina Svitolina.