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Alex Eala’s unorthodox serve leaves Iga Swiatek searching for answers
For most players, a slower serve is a liability.
For Alex Eala, it became one of the biggest weapons behind one of the greatest victories of her career.
Fresh off her stunning 7-6 (9), 6-2 upset of defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday evening (Manila time), Eala revealed that while she has never relied on power behind her serve, she has learned to maximize it in ways that fit her game.
“I’ve never really been the biggest server compared to a lot of the girls here, so I do my best to use my serve as an advantage,” Eala said.
“I think I have a lot of other strengths, although I believe my serve has been improving a lot. Every player is different, and maybe Iga today had… she said that? Okay. So I guess I did my job well.”
That “job” was far more effective than the speed gun suggested.
While Swiatek typically averages serves of around 102 mph, Eala’s first serve at Wimbledon averaged just 87 mph, with second serves between 74 and 76 mph—well below the tour’s biggest hitters.
Instead of overpowering her opponent, the 21-year-old Filipina repeatedly disrupted Swiatek’s timing through variance.
It proved to be one of the decisive tactical battles of the match.
“I think it was tougher mentally for me to accept these missed returns from the slow serves,” Swiatek admitted after the loss.
“I have to say it’s much tougher to return a serve like that than a normal serve. I know it was slow, I know exactly how it’s going to come to me, but it’s such a different rhythm than what I usually have a chance to return.”
The six-time Grand Slam champion said the problem only became more pronounced as the match wore on.
“The first set was a good fight, and I know it’s hard to lose such a long set. One ball here or there could have changed a lot,” Swiatek said. “I wanted to be present in the second set, but I made some unforced errors at the beginning.
“Then I felt like she was serving slower and slower, and it became tougher and tougher for me to return those serves. That was hard for me to accept.”
Unlike many of the tour’s elite servers, Eala relied on placement rather than velocity, forcing Swiatek to constantly adjust her positioning on return.
“Even though the top players play super fast and serve fast, you also need to be ready for this kind of rhythm,” Swiatek explained.
“She serves slow, so you need to step in. The court becomes short, and suddenly if I want to put my topspin on the ball, I feel like I need to play it really short.”
She added that the challenge extended beyond simply reading the serve.
“Many balls also just stayed low after the bounce, and I didn’t adjust well. I would really need to step halfway into the court to return more naturally. So I don’t know. Even though it’s super slow and people might think it’s easy to return, it’s actually quite the opposite,” Swiatek continued.
“It’s definitely something to work on.”
The effectiveness of Eala’s serve complemented an aggressive baseline game that saw her dictate many of the biggest points, particularly during a gripping first-set tiebreak.
After letting a 5-2 lead slip, Eala remained fearless, eventually converting her third set point to seize the momentum for good.
“Against Iga, I just try to play my game,” Eala said. “I’m a very aggressive player, so I try to take every opportunity I can.
“On grass, I try to step in, be brave, and whenever I see an opportunity, I go for it. That’s been the whole idea behind my game.”
Swiatek acknowledged that courage ultimately made the difference in the match’s defining moments.
“In the tiebreak, I remember when it was tight, I slowed down a bit, but she was brave enough to play faster,” Swiatek said. “You need to be brave to win those points. It was hard for me to find the balance between the speed I have—which has made me lose some matches this year because I was playing too fast—and being solid.
“I didn’t find that balance today. She played better in the important moments.”
For one afternoon at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Eala showed that the fastest serve is not always the most dangerous.
The post Alex Eala’s unorthodox serve leaves Iga Swiatek searching for answers appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas captured the PG Flex-Universities and Colleges Athletic League Streetdance Competition, providing an energetic start to the league’s ninth season on Saturday at the FilOil Center in San Juan.
Behind their dazzling choreography, high-energy routine, and synchronized movements, the PCU Dance Group impressed the judges and scored 7.79 points to dethrone defending champion Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas.
PCU-D posted 3.99 points in skills and 3.81 in performance, improving on its third-place finish from last season.
(C) UCAL
Host Manila Central University finished second with 7.30 points, while LPU-Batangas and University of Batangas tied at 7.14 points for third and fourth place, respectively.
The Pirates could have scored higher, however, after receiving a 0.05-point deduction when some of their costume accessories fell off during their performance.
Centro Escolar University rounded out the top five with 6.88 points. Immaculada Concepcion College placed sixth with 6.15, followed by Diliman College with 5.79, Olivarez College with 5.39, and Philippine Women’s University with 5.29.
(C) UCAL
The Streetdance Competition served as the highlight of the opening ceremony for the brand-new UCAL season, which is supported by Smart Sports, Mighty Bond, UNDFITD Sportswear, Spalding, Happee Toothpaste, Gerry’s Grill, Cafe France, BYND the GAME, Dazz, and Akari.
The colorful opening ceremony also featured performances by OPM artists Lola Amour and Matthaios.
The UCAL calendar continues with the volleyball, esports, and badminton tournaments.
The post PCU-D dethrones LPU-Batangas in UCAL Streetdance showdown appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
The Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour is partnering with Solar Sports as its official broadcast partner, bringing select matches from the inaugural MPPT Invitational to a wider Filipino audience.
The first leg of the five-leg season is set for October 3–4 at the PCPH Court in Angeles City, Pampanga, where 12 founding teams will battle for a P1-million prize pool.
The field includes the Rizal Illustrados, led by former national tennis player Bambi Zoleta, Pampanga Chiefs, Bacoor Strikers, Muntinlupa Smashers, Batangas Bangers, Alfonso Siklab, Bangued Miki, GenSan Punchers, Parañaque Titans, Camarines Norte Golden Hawks, Abra River Paddlers, and Tacloban Aces.
For MPPT Founder and Chairman and National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Manny Pacquiao, the partnership marks another step toward building a sustainable platform for Philippine pickleball.
“From the beginning, our goal has been to give Filipino athletes a bigger platform and help bring pickleball to more people across the country,” said Pacquiao.
“Having Solar Sports as our broadcast partner allows us to bring the MPPT and our athletes to an even bigger audience. This is another important step forward for the MPPT and for the sport in the Philippines.”
Solar Sports President Wilson Tieng welcomed the partnership, which follows the network’s existing relationship with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
“Solar Sports is thrilled to carry the momentum into pickleball as the official broadcast partner for the inaugural MPPT Invitational,” said Tieng.
“With pickleball rapidly becoming a favorite pastime nationwide, the MPPT is bringing players and fans together, and we at Solar Sports are delighted to air select matches, bring top-level pickleball action to viewers and help propel the sport forward.”
Teams will compete in men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles in a single-round-robin format on Saturdays, with the top eight advancing to the playoffs on Sundays. Should teams finish tied under the point-ranking system, a singles match between their best players will determine the winner.
The MPPT Invitationals will then move to Tagaytay, Abra, and Bacoor, with the venue for the fifth leg and national finals still to be determined. The championship is expected to be staged at a bigger venue in Metro Manila at the end of October, with a bigger prize purse also anticipated.
Pacquiao and his wife, both avid pickleball players and fans, are expected to attend the opening ceremony, alongside celebrities and influencers who have embraced the sport, including Tacloban team owner Karla Estrada.
Licensed by the Games and Amusements Board, the professional league is open to all Filipinos aged 18 and above. Teams may field younger players provided they secure the required parental consent or waiver.
Solar Sports will air select group-stage matches live from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on October 3, followed by the semifinals from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the finals from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 4. Replays will air from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The post 12 teams battle for P1M prize in inaugural MPPT Invitational appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
Clearskiiin is set to make their mark in the Spikers’ Turf as the league welcomes its newest team for the 2026 Invitational Conference.
Clearskiiin was formally introduced on Friday at Seda BGC, with team owners Sydney Calderon and Luis Calderon joining the squad and coaching staff for the presentation.
The UV Smashers were formed to provide another avenue for players who have been left without teams but still want to pursue competitive volleyball.
“The Clearskiiin UV Smashers started with a really simple but meaningful reason. We wanted to create an opportunity for players who suddenly found themselves without a team. A place for them to continue doing what they love, continue competing, and at the same time have a source of income through volleyball,” said Calderon, who also serves as head coach of Savouge.
“Para sa akin, sayang ang talent kapag mawawalan ng opportunity. Maraming magagaling na players na gusto pang maglaro pero minsan, nawawalan talaga sila ng team o pagkakataon para maipagpatuloy nila ito that’s why we decided, me and my bana Luis Calderon, to build this team to give them another opportunity, platform, and chance to prove themselves,” she added.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
Joe Bangit will call the shots for the UV Smashers, supported by assistant coaches Sandy Montero, Peter Torres, John Pagtalunan, Kenneth Hernandez, and Pawix Agir.
Louis Gamban and JM Ronquillo will serve as the team’s co-captains, while the roster also features experienced players Edward Camposano, Jay Rack dela Noche, Charlee Magpayo, JM Paglaon, Kim Dayandante, Nas Gwaza, and Vince Abrot.
Rounding out the lineup are Rick Adao, KC Andrade, Renzel Antonio, Jester Bornel, Bhim Diones, Angelo Gayud, and Robert Flores.
Bangit, who has spent more than 14 years coaching in the United States, emphasized that building a strong team will require more than individual talent.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
“I’ve been coaching for over 14 years in the United States and one thing I’ve learned is that talent can bring players together but talent alone doesn’t build a team. Standards too. From day one, our standard has been simple, show up, work, compete, and hold each other accountable,” said Bangit.
The UV Smashers will get their first taste of Spikers’ Turf action when the 2026 Invitational Conference opens on October 10 at SM Seaside City Cebu.
The tournament will also mark a milestone for the Spikers’ Turf and Premier Volleyball League as both leagues celebrate their 10th anniversary.
Sports Vision Management Group Inc. president Ricky Palou welcomed Clearskiiin to the league and challenged the newcomers to immediately establish themselves as contenders.
“This is your second team, you have Savouge and now you have Clearskiiin. We welcome you to the Spikers’ Turf. We’re more than happy to have you join us again. I hope you will do your best, show everybody your skills and hopefully soon you win a championship,” said Palou.
The post Newcomer Clearskiiin out to make mark in Spikers’ Turf appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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