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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.
BATANGAS CITY – ZUS Coffee overwhelmed an undermanned Choco Mucho in straight sets, 25-14, 25-12, 25-23, to continue its impressive start in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League On Tour Showdown on Saturday night at the Batangas City Sports Center here.
Coming off a four-set victory over Akari last Wednesday in Ilagan, the Thunderbelles carried that momentum into Batangas, dominating the opening two sets before surviving a tougher third frame to remain unbeaten and pocket another ₱100,000 winner’s incentive.
The victory came at the expense of a Flying Titans squad that missed the services of Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, and newly acquired Dawn Catindig, all of whom remain with Alas Pilipinas as the national team prepares for the 2026 Asian Games.
(C) PVL Images
“Hindi naman ata kumpleto ‘yung mga teams, pero kami we’re trying to practice our rotations so marami kaming bago, marami kaming bagong additions so we’d like to practice and give them some playing time,” said ZUS Coffee head coach Jerry Yee.
The Thunderbelles’ offense clicked from the opening serve under the steady direction of Chenae Basarte, who started in place of Cloanne Mondonedo and orchestrated the attack with 12 excellent sets.
ZUS Coffee showcased its depth with a balanced offensive effort led by Chinnie Arroyo, who finished with nine points.
Veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga, returning after missing the opener against Akari, made an immediate impact with eight points and six excellent digs, while rookie Nicole Ong matched her output with eight markers.
Jolina Dela Cruz and Rachel Daquis chipped in six points apiece, while Kate Santiago, Zam Nolasco, AC Miner, and Riza Nogales contributed five each, highlighting the Thunderbelles’ balanced attack that kept Choco Mucho on the defensive throughout the match.
ZUS Coffee cruised through the first two sets with little resistance, but the Flying Titans finally found their rhythm in the third and threatened to extend the contest.
With the score tied at 23-all, Dela Cruz answered Caitlin Viray’s attack with a clutch off-the-block kill to put the Thunderbelles at match point. Miner then sealed the victory with a stuff block on Des Cheng, completing the straight-set sweep.
(C) PVL Images
Riding back-to-back victories, ZUS Coffee now shifts its focus to PLDT as it looks to complete a sweep of its preseason assignments on August 8 in Santiago, Isabela.
Viray paced Choco Mucho with 12 points, while Cheng added 10, but the Flying Titans struggled to keep up with ZUS Coffee’s balanced offense.
Libero Thang Ponce put together a strong defensive performance with 19 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions, but it was not enough to prevent Choco Mucho from absorbing its first loss of the preseason.
The Flying Titans will look to bounce back when they take on PLDT on July 25 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
The post ZUS Coffee stays unbeaten, sweeps past depleted Choco Mucho in PVL On Tour appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
BATANGAS CITY — Galeries Tower stunned Farm Fresh in four sets, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 26-24, to open its 2026 Premier Volleyball League On Tour Showdown campaign with a victory on Saturday at the Batangas City Sports Center here.
The Highrisers came out firing, dominating the opening set before the Foxies responded by snatching the second frame to level the match and set the stage for what looked to be a marathon encounter.
Galeries Tower, however, quickly regained control, dictating the pace in the third set before surviving a tense fourth frame to close out the match and claim the ₱100,000 incentive awarded to the winner.
“Sinabi ko nga sa players ko na dito namin masusubukan ngayon ‘yung mga skills na pinaghirapan namin bago mag-start ‘yung season,” said head coach Clarence Esteban after the victory.
(C) PVL Images
Farm Fresh refused to go down without a fight, leaning on veterans Ces Molina, Royse Tubino, and Riri Meneses to spark a 3-1 run that erased a 22-24 deficit and tied the fourth set at 24-all, threatening to force a deciding fifth set.
But just as the Foxies appeared ready to extend the match, Lycha Ebon delivered a clutch kill to restore match point for the Highrisers.
Moments later, Roselle Baliton sealed the victory with a quick attack, ending the nearly two-hour contest and sending Galeries Tower to a hard-earned opening-day win.
“Maganda ‘yung nilabas nila nung game, dahil na rin sa kagustuhan nilang manalo nitong araw na ‘to. Pero siyempre hindi basta-basta rin si Farm Fresh, so grateful ako sa mga players namin na nagpursigi para makuha namin ‘yung panalo,” Esteban added.
Erika Deloria continued to settle into her role as one of the team’s primary offensive weapons, finishing with a game-high 24 points built on 22 attacks and two aces. She also showcased her all-around game with 13 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.
Aiza Pontillas chipped in 13 points, while middle blockers Jean Asis and Baliton contributed nine markers apiece.
Top overall 2026 PVL Draft pick Lams Lamina made her much-anticipated league debut, tallying seven excellent sets off the bench. Ebon and Jade Gentapa also provided timely contributions with seven points each.
Team captain Julia Coronel orchestrated the offense with 21 excellent sets while adding four points, while Baby Love Barbon anchored the defense with 17 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.
Riding the momentum of its opening-day triumph, Galeries Tower now shifts its focus to a showdown against Nxled on August 1 in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
(C) PVL Images
Farm Fresh, meanwhile, struggled to find its offensive rhythm. Royse Tubino led the Foxies with 12 points, while Ara Galang added 11.
The Highrisers also neutralized two of Farm Fresh’s top scorers, holding Trisha Tubu to just six points and Ces Molina to only five while disrupting the Foxies’ attack throughout the match.
Farm Fresh will look to bounce back when it takes on Nxled on August 15 in Lanao del Norte.
The post Galeries Tower opens PVL On Tour with four-set victory over Farm Fresh appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
Months after standing on the opposite side of the net against Creamline in the finals, Ishie Lalongisip now finds herself wearing the Cool Smashers’ colors in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League On Tour Showdown.
Lalongisip was one of Cignal’s key contributors off the bench during the season-ending All-Filipino Conference, where the Super Spikers pushed the Cool Smashers to the limit before eventually falling in the championship series.
For the 24-year-old outside hitter, the move still feels surreal after spending years battling Creamline in some of the PVL’s most memorable finals.
“Sobrang saya kasi dati kapag Creamline-Cignal, parang ano rin siya, sobrang exciting na rin,” said Lalongisip.
As she begins her journey with the Cool Smashers, Lalongisip is eager to embrace the team’s championship culture and learn the winning habits that have made Creamline the PVL’s most successful franchise.
(C) PVL
“Ngayon, nakasama ko na sina Ate Jema, then ‘yung mga iba kong teammates. Super excited na ako at looking forward po ako sa lahat ng magiging learnings ko sa Creamline,” she said.
Lalongisip also pointed to the composure that has long stood out to her whenever she faced Creamline.
“Kahit sa pressured moments, ‘yung Creamline talaga nakikita ko na intact sila at happy-happy lang sa paglalaro,” she added.
In her preseason debut with Creamline, the former Rookie of the Conference stepped up in the absence of several veteran stars. Her performance helped the Cool Smashers defeat Nxled, 25-18, 25-23, 16-25, 25-19, last Wednesday night at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.
Lalongisip made an immediate impact, finishing with nine points off the bench as Creamline showcased its depth despite missing veteran spikers Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez.
Adding to the significance of her debut, Lalongisip also got the opportunity to face former Cignal teammates Gel Cayuna and Jackie Acuña, who are now with the Chameleons.
“Sobrang saya. Natatawa lang nila kami lang una, tapos kapag nagkakatapat kami sa harap ng net, parang smile-smile lang tapos tingin-tingin, eye contact tapos tawa-tawa lang din,”she said.
“Nakaka-miss sila kasama.”
The post Ishie Lalongisip embraces new chapter with Creamline after years as finals foe appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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