The Albany Gazette - Paolini ends Eala run ahead of Wimbledon wildcard clash

French Open champion Alexander Zverev can seal his first Wimbledon quarter-final appearance when he takes on Jiri Lehecka.

Italian 13th seed Paolini edged out Iga Swiatek's conqueror Eala with a gritty 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory on Centre Court, reaching her first Grand Slam quarter-final since losing the 2024 All England Club final.

Paolini will next face Ukrainian 12th seed Marta Kostyuk, who saw off qualifier Ashlyn Krueger in straight sets.

It marks a return to form for Paolini, who has struggled this year and appeared on the verge of a first-round exit last week when she lost her opening set of the tournament 6-0 to world number 195 Robin Montgomery.

"After the first set in the first round I was like 'Okay, it can only go better'... point by point, game by game, I was feeling better," said Paolini, who was also the runner-up at the French Open two years ago.

The 21-year-old Eala enjoyed a history-making tournament, becoming the first player from the Philippines to reach the third and fourth rounds of a major in the Open era.

But she could not extend her fairytale run into the last eight, waving goodbye to the crowd after a tense deciding set.

Belgian Elise Mertens backed up her surprise last-32 win over second seed Elena Rybakina by seeing off Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-4 to book a maiden Wimbledon quarter-final against either Madison Keys or Linda Noskova.

- Dimitrov hoping to banish injury memories -

Dimitrov is back in the fourth round, 12 months on from having to retire injured at the same stage against eventual champion Jannik Sinner, when leading by two sets.

The Bulgarian returned to the tour earlier this year but needed a wildcard to play at Wimbledon.

"I believe in destiny, but right now, we're just living in the moment," he said.

"I think that's all I have been trying to do every single day when I get out there on the courts, whether I'm playing a match or not."

It will be the first meeting between two wildcards in the last 16 of a men's Grand Slam.

Fery is the last British singles player remaining, after becoming the fifth man from the home nation to reach round four in the 21st century with an epic win over Zizou Bergs in the longest match of the tournament so far.

- Cobolli into quarters -

Flavio Cobolli continued his strong form by reaching a second straight Wimbledon quarter-final with an impressive 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur.

The Italian, who lost the French Open final to Zverev last month, will next face Dimitrov or Fery.

Second seed Zverev rounds off the action on Centre Court as he bids to finally reach the quarters on his 10th visit to Wimbledon, up against Czech 13th seed Lehecka.

Taylor Fritz, a semi-finalist last year, faces a tricky assignment against colourful Kazakh Alexander Bublik on Court One.

(T.Martin--TAG)