Filipino teen Alexandra Eala stuns Iga Swiatek to make Miami Open semifinals
Teenager Alexandra Eala continues to make headlines at the Miami Open with another impressive upset in the quarterfinals. The 19-year-old left-hander, who hails from the Philippines and is ranked 140th in the world, defeated second-seeded Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, in straight sets.
Eala, who received a wild card entry into the WTA 1000 event, is the only player representing the Philippines on the women’s professional tour. She made history by reaching her first WTA semifinals after defeating Swiatek in a thrilling match that lasted 1 hour and 37 minutes.
“I’m in complete disbelief right now, I’m on cloud nine,” Eala said in her post-match interview. Throughout her remarkable run at the Miami Open, Eala also secured victories over major champions Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion and world No. 5.
Eala, who has been training at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca for the past six years, expressed her desire to inspire change and promote women’s tennis in her home country. She emphasized the importance of being a role model and encouraging others to pick up a racket and participate in the sport.
Despite her lack of experience on the WTA Tour, Eala displayed composure and professionalism on the court. She capitalized on Swiatek’s vulnerabilities, breaking her serve multiple times and showcasing her powerful forehand returns. Swiatek, on the other hand, struggled to find her rhythm and ultimately fell to Eala in a surprising defeat.
Eala’s next challenge will come in the semifinals, where she will face either Jessica Pegula of the U.S. or Emma Raducanu of Britain. With her confidence at an all-time high and her determination unwavering, Eala is poised to continue her remarkable journey at the Miami Open and make a lasting impact on the tennis world.
