MANILA, Philippines – With little to lose, Alex Eala has taken the Miami Open by storm.
And she stands just two wins away from a breakthrough WTA Tour crown as Eala advanced to the semifinals after a monumental 6-2, 7-5 win over five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek — a victory that put the Filipina teen in a class of her own.
By beating Swiatek, Eala became the first Filipino to reach the final four of a WTA 1000 event and equalled the best result accomplished by a wild card in the Miami Open since its inception in 1985.
Eala could have easily accepted the seemingly inevitable prospect of being thwarted by the former world No. 1 and current world No. 2 Swiatek, but the 19-year-old — believing she is ripe for her big moment after multiple setbacks in the past — bet on herself and pulled off her biggest career win yet.
“I think faith, belief, and self-esteem, they all come as a pack. I feel that’s what’s going to get you through the tough times and belief is what’s going to push you through during the good moments, like this week,” Eala told Tennis Channel.
“I’ve been loving the way that I’m out there on court and I’m trusting my shots. And I have a great team to tell me I can do it. That’s the secret.”
The win marked the third straight match Eala beat a Grand Slam winner after stunning reigning Australian Open titlist and world No. 5 Madison Keys in the round of 32, and 2017 French Open champion and world No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 64.
She clinched all three wins in straight sets and has yet to drop a set in the tournament as she also swept world No. 73 Katie Volynets in the first round.
Eala was supposed to face world No. 11 Paula Badosa in the round of 16, but the Spanish standout withdrew due to an injury, paving the way for her to meet Swiatek in the quarterfinals.
It was a dream turned reality for Eala, who graduated from the Rafa Nadal Academy in June 2023 with Swiatek delivering the keynote speech.
Eala even shared a photo with Swiatek and Nadal when she received her diploma, alongside a photo with her family.
“When I look at this picture, I’m the same girl. The circumstances have changed so much,” said Eala, the youngest among the quarterfinalists. “I really knew that one day I would have the chance to play her, but I didn’t know that it was going to be this week.”
Playing Swiatek was one thing, but beating the Polish star was a different matter altogether.
Swiatek had lost to a player outside the top 100 in a WTA main draw just twice, and although she has not won a title since she ruled the French Open for the fourth time last year, she remained one of the most dangerous foes in the scene.
Undeterred, world No. 140 Eala played to her strengths as Swiatek struggled with her serve, ending up with a whopping 32 unforced errors.
And out of 10 service games, Swiatek got broken eight times by Eala.
“She has a great serve. Madison had a great serve, Jelena had a great serve. So it’s normal that I would miss some, I would frame some, I would miss three meters out, but I cannot be afraid to continue what I know I have to do,” said Eala.
“Take it early and not to be afraid. I think not to be afraid to miss.”
Now that she is near the finish line, Eala does not intend to take her foot off the gas as she tangles with either Emma Raducanu or Jessica Pegula.
Raducanu won the 2021 US Open, while Pegula is currently ranked fourth in the world.
“It will take everything in me. Just because I won this match and the match before doesn’t mean that the next match is going to be any less tough. If anything, it will be even more tough so it will take everything I have,” Eala said. – Rappler.com