Alex Eala bows to Jessica Pegula as Miami Open dream run ends
Mar 27, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHL) waves to fans from her player’s chair after her match against Jessica Pegula (USA)(not pictured) in a women’s singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Alex Eala ended her dream run in the 2025 Miami Open on Friday, but not before dragging World No. 4 Jessica Pegula to a grueling three-set showdown in the semifinal.
Pegula booked the spot in the final with a 7-6 (3) 5-7, 6-3 win against Eala, the 140th-ranked history maker from the Philippines, who pushed her to the limits and threatened another upseti on Friday.
“I’m so tired. So, so tired,” said an exhausted Pegula shortly after the match that spilled past midnight in Miami.
LIVE: Alex Eala vs Jessica Pegula – 2025 Miami Open semifinal
“She [Eala] is really good. Goes for her shots, takes the ball early. Being a lefty is always tricky, competes really well. She’s beaten a lot of top players this week.”
Pegula set up a showdown against Aryna Sabalenka, who earlier ousted Jasmine Paolini in a 6-2, 6-2 demolition job, in the Final on Saturday.
Despite the loss, Eala was all smiles as she pumped her fists and waved to the gallery filled with Filipino fans.
Alex Eala feels the love despite the loss
💙❤️#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/DeNmdiM4Fu
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 28, 2025
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Eala became the toast of the town in Miami after beating three Grand Slam champions–Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek–the past week en route to the semifinal, setting the record as the first Filipino to make this deep of run in a WTA 1000 tournament.
The 19-year-old Filipino ace continued her impressive form in the semifinal against Pegula, a runner up in the 2024 US Open. Eala lost the opening set in the tie-break then rallied to take Set 2 to force a decider.
Mar 27, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Jessica Pegula of the United States shakes hands with Alexandra Eala of the Philippines at the net after their women’s singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“I don’t really think she needs me to tell her that she’s a great player, that we’re not going to see enough of her, but we definitely are. And she proved that tonight. That was really tough,” said Pegula of Eala.
Eala, the lowest-ranked semi-finalist in the tournament’s history, seriously threatened to go one step further with another accomplished and effervescent display.
READ: Alex Eala: Philippines’ smash hit on path toward tennis stardom
The tide looked to have turned against her when Pegula broke to go 3-1 up in the second set, but Eala broke back and her fist pump and look of determination was a sign of things to come.
Eala broke Pegula three times and was broken twice herself but crucially was able to hold when serving for the set at 6-5.
Both players protected their serve better in the deciding set but Eala’s forehand let her down when the American broke to go 5-3 up and she served out for a victory that brought her visible relief.
“Of course there is disappointment right after the match,” said Eala.
Mar 27, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHL) reacts after winning a point against Jessica Pegula (USA)(not pictured) in a women’s singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“But there are just so many times in tennis where you have to dig through the dirt to look for the positive and I’m just enjoying because there is so much positive around me and I don’t know how many times that happens,” she added.
Playing with a strapped thigh from the outset, Eala turned her ankle mid-way through the second set but said she had not been impacted by the injury.
“I literally gave everything I had, I’m half tape, I’m like a mummy. I did everything and I have no regrets,” she said.
“To have a week like this, the stars need to align and they did this week, and hopefully I can keep that up — that is my goal now, to keep this up,” she added.
Pegula said it had been difficult to play an opponent like Eala.
“I let her back in the match at 3-1 up (second set) and she just started ripping her balls, going for her shots and you just have to weather the storm with people like that. She competes really well,” said the American. –With reports from Celest Flores-Colina/INQUIRER.net
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