Jasmine Paolini ends Alex Eala's historic run with fourth-round victory at Wimbledon 2026

Italy's Jasmine Paolini ended Alexandra Eala's trailblazing Wimbledon run in the fourth round with a 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory on a baking hot Centre Court on Monday. The 21-year-old left-hander Eala is the first player from the Philippines to go so far in a Grand Slam and she pushed the 2024 runner-up hard throughout an absorbing contest.

Eala, seeded 29, has captivated Wimbledon crowds with her bubbly personality and the free-flowing game which accounted for defending champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday. But it was the equally popular Paolini who raised her game at key moments to reach the quarter-finals for the second time.

The 13th seed's participation at Wimbledon was in doubt with a foot injury that has dogged her season and meant she played just one grasscourt match in her Wimbledon build-up. Her tournament began with her losing the first set of her opener against Robin Montgomery 6-0, but since that shaky start, the 30-year-old has rediscovered her bounce.

"I came here without many matches in the last month and after the first set in the first round, it was like 'okay I can only get better, it can't go worse'," Paolini said on court. "I'm feeling better point by point and game by game. Grass is a weird surface, sometimes you love it, sometimes you hate, but when you play well and feel good, it's the best surface."

Paolini had some celebrity support, with compatriot Kimi Antonelli, the F1 championship leader, in the Royal Box alongside Roger Federer.

Marta Kostyuk reach quarterfinals

No. 12 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Ashlyn Krueger on Monday.

Kostyuk fell behind 4-2 in the second set before delivering back-to-back service breaks, setting up a meeting against No. 13 Jasmine Paolini of Italy at the All England Club.

Kostyuk finished with a 22-10 advantage in winners and made only 13 unforced errors, compared to 29 for Krueger. Kostyuk, 24, converted four of 10 break points as she continues her quest for her first Grand Slam title.

Flavio Cobolli beats De Minaur and eyes ice cream after return to Wimbledon quarters

Flavio Cobolli continued the best Grand Slam run of his career on Monday by defeating Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur 7-5 7-6(4) 6-3 and returning to the Wimbledon quarter-finals just weeks after his French Open runner-up finish.

The ninth seed's battling display on Court One put him in the Wimbledon quarter-finals for a second straight year, and he will have a good chance to continue his surge with a wildcard looming in the next round.

Cobolli will play the winner of the fourth-round encounter between British hopeful Arthur Fery and Bulgarian veteran Grigor Dimitrov, both of whom have made hay in the sunshine at the All England Club in the past week.

"I've been feeling tired on the tour, so I'm very happy to reach the quarter-finals in three sets, because it's important to stay with energy for the next round," Cobolli said.

"This year has been so hot, we saw in the crowd (people struggling). Thanks for coming today. Thanks for staying. I appreciate it a lot. I'm so happy and proud of myself."

The 24-year-old Italian took charge of the first meeting between top-10 players in the men's draw this year by forcing a backhand error to break in the 11th game of the opening set, which he pocketed in 50 minutes.

Stoppage in play as fans struggle with heat

A relaxed Cobolli chatted with fans during a break in play when a spectator fell ill in the second set and with De Minaur during another halt, before he reeled off three games in a row from 2-5 down to double his advantage via a tiebreak.

"There's a lot of respect (between us). I love him, I love how he plays," said Cobolli.

"I don't love to play with him. But we had a little chat during the break, and he told me I have to expect another thing like that happened there because it's really hot. We're lucky to finish with only two stoppages."

The big hitting that helped Cobolli navigate tense moments at the end of the second set helped him claw back from 0-2 in the next set and recover another break in the sixth game to finally see off his determined opponent.

Asked if he planned to watch the encounter between Fery and Dimitrov, Cobolli said he would beat the heat with ice cream and look forward to a meal cooked by his father instead.

"I won't watch it for sure. Like you every day, ice cream, and my dad will cook pasta with tomato and onion. I don't know, maybe we'll hit here. There's a workout. I want to watch Spain and Portugal (in the World Cup)."

(With inputs from Reuters)