Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra Eala delivered one of the biggest upsets of her career on Thursday, June 18, defeating world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 Berlin Open.

Playing on the Steffi Graf Stadion, the Filipina wildcard overturned an early deficit to upset the Kazakh in straight sets at the WTA 500 grass-court tournament. 

The victory carried a layer of redemption for the 21-year-old. Rybakina had ended Eala's run at the Italian Open earlier this season with a 6-4, 6-3 win on the clay courts of Rome. This time, on grass, the tables turned.

Eala overturns 4-1 deficit to claim opening set

In the first set, Eala rallied from a 4-1 deficit to tie it at 4-4 before Rybakina briefly regained the lead at 5-4. Eala responded by winning three straight games, including a key break in the 11th game, to close out the opening set. 

After dropping the opening game of the second set, Eala surged to a 3-1 lead and continued to frustrate Rybakina's comeback bid even after the Kazakh star pulled within 5-4. With Rybakina threatening to level the set, the world No. 35 served out the match. 

A backhand error by Rybakina, also the reigning WTA Finals and Australian Open titlist, sealed the win, and Eala let out a huge roar in celebration. 

Eala credits bravery as key to upset win

"I'm really happy with today, of course," Eala said after the match. "It could have gone either way. 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." 

On her returning game, which proved decisive throughout the match, Eala said: "I think for me, returning, and my game in general, a highlight word would be to be brave, and it makes a big difference when I'm able to do that." 

Filipina now 5-4 against top-10 players in 2026

The win raised Eala's record in matches against top-10 players to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in 2026, having also beaten then-No. 4 Coco Gauff at the Indian Wells Open and then-No. 8 Jasmine Paolini at the Dubai Tennis Open earlier this year. 

It was also her second win over a tournament's second seed, following her memorable upset of Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Miami Open. 

Eala's grass-court form heading into Berlin had already been remarkable. After winning the biggest title of her career at the WTA 125 event in Birmingham, Eala is now 8-1 on grass in 2026, with wins over Rybakina, Queen's Club champion Donna Vekic, and fellow Berlin quarterfinalist Nikola Bartunkova. 

Eala to face Svitolina in quarterfinals; Wimbledon looms

Eala will next face No. 6 seed Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, their first-ever meeting. Beyond Berlin, Eala continues to build momentum ahead of Wimbledon, where she is set to make just her second main draw appearance when the Championships begin on June 29.

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