Fearless Eala topples Swiatek as shocks rock Wimbledon
LONDON: Two gaping holes were blasted into the women’s draw at Wimbledon on Saturday as defending champion Iga Swiatek was outplayed by Filipino crowd-pleaser Alexandra Eala and second seed Elena Rybakina was sent packing by Belgian Elize Mertens. Disgruntled Polish third seed Swiatek lost a titanic first-set battle that lasted almost 90 minutes and had no answer to a fearless Eala after that as she lost 7-6(9) 6-2. Rybakina, the 2022 champion who doubled her Grand Slam tally this year by winning the Australian Open, also fell away badly after a close first set, going down 7-6(4) 6-1 to Mertens who has reached the last 16 for the fourth time. “Definitely I need to analyze and change something because it’s not working,” said Rybakina, for whom a run to the quarter-finals here could have seen her become world number one. There was American disappointment on the day of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as Serena Williams, one of its greatest ever athletes, withdrew from her eagerly-awaited doubles with sister Venus because of injury. In an Instagram post Williams, who returned to the tournament after a four-year absence but lost to Maya Joint in the singles, said she was “heartbroken to have to withdraw.” But there were July 4 fireworks on Center Court as 26th seed Madison Keys upset last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova, seeded six, 3-6 6-2 6-3 in an all-American blockbuster. Keys, on a roll on the grass after her title run in Eastbourne last week, was one of eight American singles players in action on the nation’s big day. There was further US success as qualifier Ashlyn Krueger enjoyed a comprehensive 6-3 6-2 victory over Ukraine’s Daria Snigur but 23rd seed Emma Navarro went out to