Alex Eala has earned a measure of revenge on Maya Joint, defeating the Australian 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, to book her place in the third round of the 2026 Wimbledon Open on Thursday.
The win avenged Eala's heartbreaking defeat to the 20-year-old Australian in the 2025 Lexus Eastbourne Open final, where Joint prevailed 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (12).
Fresh off a statement three-set victory over seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams in the opening round, Joint seized the initiative immediately by breaking Eala in the opening game before backing it up with a comfortable hold for a quick 2-0 advantage.
Both players settled into a series of confident service holds as the rallies became increasingly tactical, but world No. 87 Joint pounced once more, with Eala serving to stay in the set at 3-5, earning her second break to wrap up the opener in 35 minutes.
Joint dictated play throughout the first set with her aggressive ball-striking, finishing with a commanding 13-4 edge in winners over Eala, the No. 29 seed, while consistently putting the Filipina on the defensive from the baseline.
Eala responded emphatically in the second set, striking with her opening break of the match in the third game.
The Filipina rode that momentum through a three-game surge, combining aggressive returning with more consistent baseline play to open a 3-1 lead.
The players traded routine holds to make it 4-2 before Eala broke Joint for a second time in the seventh game. She then served out the set with composure, leveling the contest with a commanding 6-2 response.
The momentum shift was fueled largely by Joint's dip in consistency -- the Australian spraying 14 unforced errors in the second set, allowing Eala to capitalize and extend rallies until opportunities to attack presented themselves.
All the emotions. What a moment for Alexandra Eala ����#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ETpQxxuUO0
- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2026
Eala carried her momentum into the deciding set by putting Joint under pressure. The Australian's opening service game turned into a grueling 13-minute battle, with Eala converting her sixth break point of the game to seize an early advantage before backing it up with a hold for a 2-0 advantage.
The pressure never relented, and Joint's second service game developed into another marathon; Eala wore down the Australian from the baseline before capitalizing on her fourth break-point opportunity to stretch the lead to 3-0 and firmly take control of the third set.
With her confidence growing, the 2026 Birmingham Open winner continued to dictate rallies with aggressive returning and consistent groundstrokes, never allowing Joint a way back into the match.
She claimed a third break, in the fifth game, before serving out to complete a dominant bagel that capped off a remarkable comeback.
"I really had to dig deep," Eala said.
"Especially after the first set. Maya came out on fire. She came out ready.
"I was expecting a really good match. We've competed in some very good conditions before so I was prepared for a good match.
"She's coming off an amazing win. I watched it and I think she played really well and handled herself really well in that situation. Congratulations to Maya."
Eala spoke also about her previous match up, in Eastbourne last year.
"Yeah, so for those who don't know we had an insane match last year and I lost.
"It hit me quite hard. I cried a lot. I don't think I was able to watch those highlights for a couple of months.
"So I'm really happy. I think I improved a lot in this past year. I'm happy I'm able to look back at that loss. And I'm able to smile."
Awaiting Eala in the round of 32 is defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiątek,.
Their budding rivalry is level at one win apiece after Eala stunned the Polish star during her breakthrough run at the Miami Open last year before Swiątek responded with a victory at the Madrid Open -- also in 2025.
Swiatek said after defeating Korolina Pliskova in the second round that she didn't "particularly know [Eala's] game on grass... but I know how she plays because we've played already."
"She has a tricky game," Swiatek said of Eala.
"I can assume on grass that it's even more tricky because of the surface.
"For sure she's using her strengths, the change of rhythm and everything. So I will prepare and I'll be ready.
"It will be a good challenge for me because she doesn't give that rhythm. I'll need to be ready for different kinds of shots."