Philippines’ Alex Eala and world No. 2 tennis player Iga Swiatek of Poland clash in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Miami Open. –AFP FILE PHOTOS
Former champion Iga Swiatek came through a tight first set before dispatching Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 7-6(5) 6-3 to book a spot in the Miami Open quarterfinals shortly after midnight.
The Pole signed off by writing “time to sleep” on a camera lens.
Up next for the world number two Swiatek is a date with wildcard Alex Eala. The 19-year-old Filipino advanced when 10th seed Paula Badosa pulled out of their fourth-round meeting with a lower back injury.
READ: Alex Eala rues Paula Badosa injury as dream Miami Open run continues
Eala is coming off impressive victories over 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko and Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
Coco Gauff lost to unseeded Magda Linette 6-4 6-4 on Monday as she missed out on a place in the Miami Open quarterfinals after a tough day for Americans as holder Danielle Collins, Amanda Anisimova and Ashlyn Krueger also went out in straight sets.
Iga Swiatek of Poland returns a shot against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine during their match on day 7 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 24, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Rich Storry/Getty Images/AFP
Gauff, seeded third, struggled mightily with her serve, committing 12 double faults and putting just half of her first serves into play while unforced errors piled up against her 34th-ranked Polish opponent.
Linette held her nerve as the South Florida crowd came alive after Gauff pulled ahead 4-3 in the second set and the Pole ultimately prevailed to notch her first win over a top-three player since 2021.
“It was really important for me to keep pressing Coco’s serve to make sure she feels the pressure,” Linette said.
READ: Alex Eala advances to Miami Open quarters after Paula Badosa withdraws
Next up for Linette is Italian sixth seed Jasmine Paolini, who beat Japan’s Naomi Osaka 3-6 6-4 6-4 earlier on Monday.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka crushed 23 winners including seven aces to overpower defending champion Collins 6-4 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals where she will meet Zheng Qinwen, who beat Krueger 6-2 7-6(3) in their round of 16 match.
Who will become the next Champion in Miami ? 🏆#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/Dy1JyJ5bQ0
— wta (@WTA) March 25, 2025
World number one Sabalenka will be a heavy favorite against Zheng, who has never beaten the Belarusian in five previous career meetings.
Jessica Pegula was left to fly the flag for the U.S. women after she won the final six games of her match to see off Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-3.
Pegula, seeded fourth, meets Briton Emma Raducanu next after the former U.S. Open champion beat Anisimova 6-1 6-3 in hot and humid conditions.
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Raducanu did not drop a point on serve in the first set against the 17th seed and outmaneuvered her in a rally on match point to seal the win.
It will be the first quarterfinal of a WTA 1000 event for the 22-year-old Raducanu, who has split her two previous career meetings with Pegula.
“I know it’s going to be a really difficult match but I think I’m playing pretty good tennis,” Raducanu told Tennis Channel.
“I’m really happy with the way things are going and more importantly just enjoying finding the competitive spirit again.”