Eala made a nervous start, returning to center court after her comfortable win over Swiatek, but she managed to get through her first serve unscathed – despite some wayward forehands and a double fault.
While Ila seemed tense, Paolini looked lively and two games later she went on a string of emphatic victories to strike first.
At 5-3, Ila fought back after a few unforced errors from the Italian, but slow serves at around 70 mph did her no favors as she served to stay in the set and Paolini took advantage to close out the first game.
The pair traded breaks early in the second before Ila surged ahead and, 0-40 down on serve, delighted the fans on Center Court by forcing a decider.
Increasingly frustrated in the second set, Paolini pulled herself together and easily held serve while Ila held on.
But a double fault from the Filipino in the eighth game gave Paolini a break point, which Eala conceded with a forehand to fall behind 5-3.
Despite the nervousness caused by watching her “idol” Roger Federer in the Royal Box, Paolini prevailed after two hours and 22 minutes.
“I want to thank Roger. In the match I tried to stay focused, not thinking about him being here,” Paolini said as Federer applauded her.
“I watched all the finals and tournaments he played in here.”