Alex Eala scores upset in Miami Open main draw debut
Alex Eala of the Philippines returns a shot during day two of the Miami open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala pulled off an upset to kick off her 2025 Miami Open campaign with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over World No.73 Katie Volynets on Thursday (Manila time).
Making her Miami Open main draw debut, Eala fought her way back from a 1-3 deficit in the first set, winning five consecutive games to draw first blood.
READ: Alex Eala reaches another career-high in WTA rankings
The World No. 140 netter carried the momentum in the second, leading 3-1 and moving closer with a 5-3 advantage.
However, the American tied the game at 5-all and forced a set extension, where she took an early lead, 3-1, but Eala displayed found her groove to regain momentum en route to the round of 64.
READ: Alex Eala ‘excited’ to chase more goals in 2025
The 19-year-old Filipino battles World No.5 and former French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko on Friday (Manila time).
Eala made her first Miami Open main draw appearance after a second-round exit in the qualifiers last year.
