In a thrilling upset, Alexandra Eala stunned World No. 2 Iga Swiatek to secure her place in the semi-finals of the Miami Open, marking a historic moment for tennis in the Philippines. The teenage wildcard showcased her exceptional talent by defeating an out-of-sorts Swiatek with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Eala is set to face either fourth seed Jessica Pegula or Britain's Emma Raducanu in her quest for a spot in the final.
With this victory, Eala has made history as the first player from the Philippines to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final. The 19-year-old has displayed remarkable skill throughout the tournament, having previously triumphed over three Grand Slam champions. Her impressive journey includes victories against reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Eala’s remarkable performance continued as she eliminated five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek in straight sets.
Alexandra Eala, who captured the US Open girls' title in 2022, is a product of Rafael Nadal’s tennis academy in Mallorca. She moved from the Philippines to Spain at the young age of 13, where she has honed her skills under the guidance of Nadal’s uncle, Toni Nadal. Eala, who is also a left-handed player like the legendary 22-time Grand Slam winner, has quickly made her mark on the professional circuit.
Before receiving a wildcard entry into the main draw of the Miami Open, Eala had only participated in two matches on the WTA Tour. This remarkable performance will propel her into the top-100 rankings for the first time, a significant achievement for the young athlete. Notably, Swiatek had not lost to any opponent ranked outside the top-100 in four years, highlighting the magnitude of Eala's victory.
Following her stunning win, Eala expressed her disbelief during her on-court interview. “I don’t know what to say! I’m in complete disbelief right now. I’m on cloud nine. Thank you everyone who came to watch and thanks to everyone who is watching back home,” she said. “It’s so surreal. I’m so happy and so blessed to compete against such a player on such a stage. My coach told me to run, to go for every ball, to take every opportunity you can, because a five-time Grand Slam champion is not going to give you the win. This is forever in my heart.”
The defeat adds to a challenging period for former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who has been under increased security following a troubling incident where she was verbally abused during a practice session in Miami. A statement from Swiatek's team confirmed that the same individual had also sent her harassing messages online, further complicating her tournament experience.
As the Miami Open progresses, all eyes will be on Alexandra Eala as she continues to make waves in the tennis world, representing her country and inspiring a new generation of players in the Philippines.
