Teenage wild card Alexandra Eala achieved the most significant victory of her burgeoning career at the Miami Open, defeating No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 to reach her first WTA semifinal. Eala rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the second set to secure the win.
`I`m in complete disbelief right now, I`m on cloud nine,` Eala expressed in her on-court interview, overwhelmed with emotion. Shown a photo from her Rafa Nadal Academy graduation less than two years prior, alongside Swiatek, Eala`s shock deepened.
`It`s so surreal,` she admitted. `I feel like I`m the same person from that photo. But obviously, things have changed! I am incredibly happy and grateful to compete against such a formidable player on this stage… My coach advised me to fight for every point, seize every opportunity, because a five-time Grand Slam champion will not simply hand you the victory.`
Key Statistics of Eala`s Remarkable Upset
At 19 years old, Eala is the first player from the Philippines to reach a semifinal in a WTA tournament. She is now guaranteed to break into the Top 100 of the WTA rankings next Monday, becoming the first Filipina to achieve this milestone. She is also the third wild card to reach the Miami semifinals, following in the footsteps of Justine Henin (2010) and Victoria Azarenka (2018), both former World No. 1s returning from breaks.
Ranked No. 140, Eala`s impressive run in Miami includes victories over Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys. She is only the second wild card to defeat three or more Grand Slam champions in a single WTA event, a feat previously accomplished by Elina Svitolina at Wimbledon 2023. Before Miami, Eala had never beaten a Top 40 opponent, nor faced a Top 20 player; she now boasts two Top 10 wins.
This defeat marks only Swiatek`s third loss to a player outside the Top 100 in a WTA main draw. Her previous losses were against Karolina Muchova (No. 106) at Prague 2019 and Ana Konjuh (No. 338) at Miami 2021.
Eala`s next opponent will be either No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula or Emma Raducanu as she aims for her first WTA final appearance.
How Eala Secured the Victory
The match began intensely, with the first four games stretching over 25 minutes and each going to deuce. Five of the first six games were service breaks. Eala immediately demonstrated her ability to compete with a five-time major champion and maintain composure even after losing long deuce points or having her lead reduced.
When Swiatek broke back for 3-2 with a backhand winner, she seemed to gain momentum. However, Eala responded by winning eight consecutive points and five games in a row, leading 2-0 in the second set.
Eala`s forehand was particularly effective, earning her three winners in one game to break for 3-1 in the first set. She also varied her play with her backhand and well-timed drop shots to close out the first set, leaving Swiatek often caught off guard.
Eala`s aggressive returning, often from inside the baseline, proved crucial. She won more second-serve return points (50%) than Swiatek won first-serve points (47%). Swiatek only managed to win two points on her second serve throughout the match.
`She went all in,` Swiatek commented in the press conference. `Her returns were deep and challenging, making it difficult to respond effectively. She played freely and confidently.`
At 2-0 in the second set, Eala double-faulted, and Swiatek followed up with a powerful crosscourt forehand, her best shot of the day. Swiatek held serve for the first time and then won four consecutive games to lead 4-2. However, she could not maintain this momentum.
After 19 unforced errors in the first set, Swiatek added 13 more in the second. While Eala`s consistency initially contributed to these errors, the rallies in the latter part of the second set became shorter and more erratic. Swiatek failed to serve out the set at 5-4 and faltered in the final game, committing three wild forehand errors. On Eala`s first match point, a deep return forced Swiatek`s backhand beyond the baseline, sealing Eala`s victory.
Eala`s Explanation of Her Victory
Throughout her press conference, Eala repeatedly emphasized the importance of compartmentalization.
`I don`t have extensive WTA Tour experience, that`s true,` she stated. `But I am experienced in compartmentalizing and maintaining professionalism. I confidently bring that aspect of myself onto the court and into any setting that demands professionalism.`
Eala attributes her ability to manage nerves and focus on each point to her family background. Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, is a former Southeast Asian Games medalist in swimming and a CFO for a major Philippine telecommunications company. Her uncle, Noli Eala, is a former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association.
`This isn`t something I learned at the academy,` she clarified. `It comes from my life experiences leading up to this moment. It`s also something my family has instilled in me, reflecting our family values. They are successful individuals in their respective fields, and I deeply admire them.`
Eala`s focus was so intense that when victory came, she seemed unsure whether to cheer or cry.
`I felt undecided myself,` she admitted. `I was so immersed in the moment, focused on each point, that it`s hard to grasp what just happened. It`s difficult to realize you`ve won. I really tried to soak it all in because this is a first for me, and I wanted to remember this feeling.`
