Swiatek up for Eala test as champion's mindset fuels Zverev

July 3 : Wimbledon's sixth day pits defending champion Iga Swiatek against a confident Alexandra Eala in the third round, while reigning French Open winner Alexander Zverev continues his quest for a maiden title on grass.

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After dropping a set in the first round, Swiatek hit her stride against Karolina Pliskova to clinch a commanding victory. But just when she was starting to look comfortable, the six-time Grand Slam champion has come up against a rising contender.

Eala, who turned heads as she picked up notable wins over top-five ranked players Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff this year, has reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 21-year-old displayed remarkable tactical adaptability and control over nerves as she fought back from a set down in the second round, switching to swift moves to the net to snatch victory over Maya Joint.

And Eala, the 29th seed, has already tasted victory against Swiatek once, in last year's Miami Open, a month before Swiatek won in their second meeting in Madrid.

"She has a tricky game. I can assume that on grass it's even more tricky because of the surface ... she doesn't give that rhythm. I will need to be ready for different kinds of shots," Swiatek said about Eala.

Eala, the first player from the Philippines to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era, said she was ready for the challenge of facing Swiatek again.

"I think it's going to be tough for me. I'm going to try to make it tough for her, as well ... I'm ready to face it head on," she said.

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Ever since second seed Zverev admitted that he has a grass allergy, the ailment has become a talking point around the French