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Alexandra Eala's Miami Open Magic: Shocking The World, One Match At A Time
Photo credit: WTA
Tennis fans got a blast from the past on Tuesday night when Serena Williams and Juan Martín del Potro made surprise appearances at the Miami Open. Novak Djokovic, looking like a kid in a candy store, couldn’t snap enough photos. But on Wednesday, the nostalgia trip took a backseat to the biggest shock of the tournament—19-year-old Alexandra Eala taking down World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.
And guess who was in the stands? None other than Toni Nadal—the mastermind behind Rafael Nadal’s record 14 French Open titles—cheering on his young protégé from the Rafa Nadal Academy. If Eala wasn’t on the tennis world’s radar before, she definitely is now.
From Underdog to Headliner
Eala’s Cinderella run at the Miami Open is straight out of a sports movie. Entering as a wild card, she’s now one win away from the finals, making history as just the third wild card to reach the Miami Open semifinals since 1985. The last two? Justine Henin (2010) and Victoria Azarenka (2018). Pretty elite company.
Now, the Filipina rising star faces her biggest test yet—World No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
The Case for Pegula
If there’s one thing Pegula does well, it’s winning matches she’s supposed to win. She’s been rock solid this tournament, taking down a red-hot Emma Raducanu in three sets despite a grueling late-night battle. Pegula’s consistency and experience make her the clear favorite against the young challenger.
“It’s my third [Miami] semifinal,” Pegula said. “So I’m hoping third time’s a charm. I want to make it to that final so bad.”
The Case for Eala
But if there’s one thing Eala has proven, it’s that she doesn’t care about rankings. Against Swiatek, she was fearless—standing inside the baseline on returns, attacking second serves, and breaking the four-time Grand Slam champ five times in a row.
Her game isn’t about raw power; it’s about smart, aggressive play. Her flat forehand, with less spin than Swiatek’s, forced rushed errors. Her serve may not be the fastest (around 90 mph on first serves), but her precision and placement kept Swiatek off balance.
After the match, even Eala seemed in disbelief.
“I think I was so in the moment, and I made it a point to be in the moment every point that it’s hard to realize what just happened,” she said. “It’s hard to realize that you won the match.”
This isn’t just a lucky run—Eala has put in the work. She’s a two-time junior Grand Slam champion, but as she said, junior success doesn’t guarantee a smooth transition to the pros.
“To win Grand Slams has always been one of the end goals,” she said. “To become No. 1 has always been one of the end goals. I made it a point to work hard every day and to trust that my time would come. Hopefully, this is the time.”
What’s Next?
Eala vs. Pegula goes down Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET. Pegula has the edge in experience, but Eala has all the momentum. One thing’s for sure—if she keeps playing fearless tennis, she just might shock the world again.
And guess who was in the stands? None other than Toni Nadal—the mastermind behind Rafael Nadal’s record 14 French Open titles—cheering on his young protégé from the Rafa Nadal Academy. If Eala wasn’t on the tennis world’s radar before, she definitely is now.
From Underdog to Headliner
Eala’s Cinderella run at the Miami Open is straight out of a sports movie. Entering as a wild card, she’s now one win away from the finals, making history as just the third wild card to reach the Miami Open semifinals since 1985. The last two? Justine Henin (2010) and Victoria Azarenka (2018). Pretty elite company.
Now, the Filipina rising star faces her biggest test yet—World No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
The Case for Pegula
If there’s one thing Pegula does well, it’s winning matches she’s supposed to win. She’s been rock solid this tournament, taking down a red-hot Emma Raducanu in three sets despite a grueling late-night battle. Pegula’s consistency and experience make her the clear favorite against the young challenger.
“It’s my third [Miami] semifinal,” Pegula said. “So I’m hoping third time’s a charm. I want to make it to that final so bad.”
The Case for Eala
But if there’s one thing Eala has proven, it’s that she doesn’t care about rankings. Against Swiatek, she was fearless—standing inside the baseline on returns, attacking second serves, and breaking the four-time Grand Slam champ five times in a row.
Her game isn’t about raw power; it’s about smart, aggressive play. Her flat forehand, with less spin than Swiatek’s, forced rushed errors. Her serve may not be the fastest (around 90 mph on first serves), but her precision and placement kept Swiatek off balance.
After the match, even Eala seemed in disbelief.
“I think I was so in the moment, and I made it a point to be in the moment every point that it’s hard to realize what just happened,” she said. “It’s hard to realize that you won the match.”
This isn’t just a lucky run—Eala has put in the work. She’s a two-time junior Grand Slam champion, but as she said, junior success doesn’t guarantee a smooth transition to the pros.
“To win Grand Slams has always been one of the end goals,” she said. “To become No. 1 has always been one of the end goals. I made it a point to work hard every day and to trust that my time would come. Hopefully, this is the time.”
What’s Next?
Eala vs. Pegula goes down Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET. Pegula has the edge in experience, but Eala has all the momentum. One thing’s for sure—if she keeps playing fearless tennis, she just might shock the world again.
Mar 27, 2025
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