MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a stunning display at the Miami Open, young tennis sensation Alexandra Eala made headlines by defeating second-seeded Iga Swiatek, a renowned five-time Grand Slam champion, with a score of 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Eala, a 19-year-old left-handed player, earned her spot in the WTA 1000 event with a wild card entry. Representing the Philippines on the professional circuit, Eala has made significant strides, entering the Miami Open with a ranking of 140th. Her remarkable journey sees her reaching her first WTA semifinals after dispatching her third major champion, completing the match in just over an hour and a half.
“I’m in complete disbelief right now, I’m on cloud nine,” Eala expressed emotionally during her on-court interview. Highlighting her path to the semifinals, she overcame formidable opponents, including 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko and current Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who is ranked fifth in the world. The victory over Keys marked Eala’s first triumph against a top-10 player.
Before this tournament, Eala hadn’t secured a win against a top-40 competitor. Her success continued as Swiatek’s attempt fell long on match point, leaving Eala visibly moved as she took in the momentous occasion. “I really tried to soak it all in, because this has never happened to me before, and that’s why I was looking at the screen,” Eala explained, emphasizing her desire to cherish this special memory.
Eala’s victory march included benefiting from a walkover in the fourth round when Paula Badosa withdrew due to injury, granting her some additional rest. Despite officially representing the Philippines, Eala has resided for the past six years in Mallorca, where she trains at the prestigious Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy.
“I would love to think that I make a difference,” Eala stated humbly. “That’s the only thing I can do to give back to my country is to help inspire, to inspire change and positive change, to inspire people to pick up a racket, to watch more tennis, watch more women’s tennis.”
The match began with Swiatek breaking Eala’s serve, but the determined teenager quickly retaliated, breaking back immediately. Despite the initial setbacks, Eala maintained her composure, playing the first two games, which stretched over 15 minutes, without losing her focus.
“I don’t have a lot of experience on the WTA Tour, that’s for sure, but I do have experience with compartmentalizing,” Eala commented. “I have experience with being professional. I have no hesitation to bring that part of me out when I’m on court.”
Throughout the match, Eala’s powerful forehand proved instrumental, significantly limiting Swiatek, who struggled to hold her serve, managing it only twice. This defeat marked Swiatek’s third loss against a player ranked outside the top 100 in a WTA main draw.
Reflecting on Eala’s performance, Swiatek noted, “Her being a lefty didn’t surprise me, but for sure, like, she went all in. She made these returns in and pretty long, and so it wasn’t easy to hit it back. She was pretty loosened up and just went for it.”
The opening set concluded in 42 minutes when Swiatek’s forehand went long on set point. Moving forward, Eala is set to compete in the semifinals on Thursday against American Jessica Pegula, who triumphed over Emma Raducanu of Britain with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2.