Alex Eala continues to make history as wildcard at Miami Open
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 26: Iga Swiatek of Poland meets Alexandra Eala of the Philippines after losing to her on Day 9 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 26, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala’s dream run in the 2025 Miami Open continues, slaying one champion after another.
And in the biggest match of her young career, Eala was unfazed against World No.2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek to pull off another big win, 6-2, 7-5, and advance to the semifinal on Thursday (Manila time).
READ: Alex Eala knocks world No. 2 Iga Swiatek out of Miami Open
According to the Women’s Tennis Association, Eala has tied the best result achieved by a wild card in the Miami Open since the tournament’s inception in 1985.
The Filipino tennis sensation was only the second wild card to get three consecutive wins over Grand Slam champions at a single WTA event.
wild card
wild win#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/xFvzsBextv— wta (@WTA) March 26, 2025
Even the 19-year-old couldn’t believe how she outplayed the Polish star, a former world No.1 with 22 career titles.
“It’s so surreal because I feel like I’m the exact same person that I was in that photo. But of course, circumstances have changed and I’m just so happy and I’m so blessed to be able to compete with a such a player on this stage,” said Eala after beating the guest of honor during her graduation at Rafael Nadal Academy.
“My coach told me to run, to go for every ball, take all the opportunities I can because five-time Grand Slam champion is not gonna give you the win.”
READ: Alex Eala: Philippines’ smash hit on path toward tennis stardom
From a wild card in her WTA 1000 debut in the 2021 Miami Open, Eala has made great strides making her first semifinal appearance in the tournament.
She became the first Filipino to reach the semis of a WTA 1000 tournament and take down a top two player since the WTA Tour rankings for women’s tennis were published in 1975.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 26: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines reacts at match point after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland on Day 9 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 26, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
More importantly, Eala has yet to drop a set in the tournament.
The Filipino prodigy got her first Miami Open main draw win after taking down World No.73 Katie Voleynets, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the Round of 128.
READ: Alex Eala takes care of business at Miami Open with little drama
She took down the World No. 25 and 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko of Latvia with a 7-6 (2), 7-5 triumph and pulled off a 6-4, 6-2 upset of the WTA No. 5 Madison Keys in the Round of 32.
Eala didn’t break a sweat in advancing to the quarterfinals after Spain’s Paula Badosa was forced to withdraw from their fourth-round match due to a lower back injury.
Even Swiatek, one of the best players in the world, couldn’t stop Eala’s Cinderalla story in the Miami Open as the Filipino rising star continues to turn heads and make a mark.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m in complete just disbelief right now and I’m on cloud nine so thank you everybody who came to watch, and thanks to everyone who’s watching from home,” she said. “It’s forever in my heart.”
Eala, currently World No.140, is expected to enter the top 100 regardless of the result of her Miami Open campaign after proving that she can compete against the world’s best tennis athletes.
