Alex Eala finally broke through in the Wimbledon Championships after a 6-1, 6-2 victory over world No. 75 Renata Zarazua of Mexico in the Round of 128 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club early Wednesday (Manila time).

Eala only needed one hour and 18 minutes to beat the 28-year-old Zarazua and advance to the next round of the third Grand Slam of the Year.

It is the 21-year-old Eala’s second victory in a Grand Slam since beating No. 25 Clara Tauson of Denmark in the first round of the US Open last August.

The Rafael Nadal Academy alumna is also the first Filipino tennis player to win a main draw match in the women’s singles in Wimbledon since the Open Era started in 1968.

Eala joins legendary netters Felicismo Ampon and Raymundo Deyro as the only Filipinos to win a match in the singles division in Wimbledon.

She will now face either No. 87 Maya Joint of Australia or 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the second round with the date and time yet to be announced.