Alexandra Eala’s Historic Miami Run Concludes
In the early hours of Friday morning, after nearly two weeks of defeating top players, Alexandra Eala found herself seated in Hard Rock Stadium, her remarkable journey in Miami coming to a close. Before she could process her complex feelings of pride and disappointment, she was met with a jubilant response from the crowd.
At 12:45 am, the audience, predominantly filled with Filipino supporters, erupted in a thunderous standing ovation to celebrate Eala’s accomplishments. With a joyful smile, she raised her fists in acknowledgment and blew kisses to the fans around the stadium.
A Remarkable Breakthrough
Eala had undoubtedly earned that moment. During her time at the Miami Open, she executed one of the most astonishing breakthrough performances of the century. As a 19-year-old from the Philippines, ranked No. 140, she entered the tournament as a wildcard with minimal expectations. Despite having won only two matches on the WTA tour prior and struggling for form in 2025, her determination propelled her forward.
Winning her first-round match against the No. 73 Katie Volynets marked a successful tournament for Eala, but she continued to amaze everyone by defeating Jelena Ostapenko, the unpredictable 2017 French Open champion, and then achieved another significant victory against Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion and world No. 5. With increasing attention on her, Eala pulled off one of the greatest upsets by beating five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek to advance to the semi-finals.
A Trailblazer for the Philippines
Just a week earlier, no Filipino woman had ever defeated a Grand Slam champion, yet Eala managed to achieve this feat three times consecutively. She demonstrated her capability further by pushing Jessica Pegula, the world No. 4, to the limit in a physically demanding three-set match.
While her success surprised many, Eala’s talent has been acknowledged for years. A left-handed player with a smart counterpunching style, she secured the US Open girls’ title in 2022 and graced the covers of Vogue before even breaking into the top 100. Trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, her win over Swiatek held extra significance, as Swiatek had been a keynote speaker at Eala’s graduation two years prior.
Looking Ahead
As she leaves Miami, Eala enters a new phase in her career. With the Philippines now having a notable competitor, fans across the nation hosted watch parties for her matches, and a live stream attracted over 170,000 viewers. Eala’s accomplishments promise a bright future filled with endorsement opportunities, but the journey ahead will be challenging as she navigates the pressure that comes with success.
The Final Showdown
With Eala’s remarkable journey concluding, the women’s draw has finalized with a matchup that many anticipated. Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula are set for yet another showdown, having met in the finals of three major hard-court events in the past year. Sabalenka has dominated in previous matches against Pegula, winning both finals in tight two-set contests.
Recent Performance Insights
Both players have had significant recent performances. Sabalenka, after just narrowly losing the Australian Open final, has bounced back with excellent play, not dropping a single set in Miami. On the other hand, Pegula, who reached her first Grand Slam final at the US Open last year, has shown resilience despite a slow start to the season. However, against the world No. 1, only her absolute best will suffice.
