Photo credit: WTA

Alex Eala’s incredible run at the 2025 Miami Open may have ended in the semifinals, but she made sure to leave her mark on the global tennis stage. The 19-year-old Filipina gave World No. 4 Jessica Pegula a serious challenge before bowing out in three hard-fought sets, 6-7(3), 5-7, 3-6, on Friday (March 28, 2025).

Though her Miami journey ended just short of the final, Eala made history as the first Filipino to reach this deep in a top-tier WTA event. Along the way, she stunned three Grand Slam champions—Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek—earning the respect of the tennis world. Her semifinal finish guarantees her a career-high ranking inside the Top 100 (from her current No. 140) and a prize purse of USD 332,160 (about PHP 19 million).

“She Was Really Good” – Pegula on Eala

Even Pegula, one of the top players in women’s tennis, acknowledged how tough it was to get past the young Filipina.

“She was really good,” Pegula said post-match. “She made me work really hard. She has great court awareness and a solid all-around game. If she keeps playing like this, she’s going to be a big threat on tour.”

A Breakthrough Moment for Philippine Tennis

Eala’s Miami Open performance is nothing short of groundbreaking for Philippine tennis. No other Filipino player has ever achieved this level of success on the WTA circuit. At just 19 years old, she’s proving she has what it takes to compete with the best in the world.

With her confidence at an all-time high and a Top 100 ranking now secured, this could be just the beginning for Eala. Tennis fans in the Philippines and beyond will surely be watching closely—because Alex Eala isn’t just here to participate. She’s here to win.