Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala delivered a monumental shock at the Miami Open, defeating five-time major champion Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 to secure her place in the tournament’s semi-finals.
Eala, just 19 years old and ranked 140th, showcased composure and resilience in one of the biggest wins of her career, becoming only the third wildcard to reach the Miami Open semi-finals.
Swiatek, the second seed, struggled with her serve and baseline game, racking up forehand errors and enduring eight service breaks.
Eala capitalized on these weaknesses, executing fearless and focused play on the court. “It might be one of the biggest upsets I’ve been on the side of the court for,” remarked Tim Henman, the former British number one.
Eala’s journey to the semi-finals has been extraordinary. Graduating from the Rafael Nadal Academy, the young star had limited main-draw success before Miami but has now defeated major champions, including Madison Keys and Jelena Ostapenko.
Her triumph against Swiatek marks her arrival on the global stage and guarantees her entry into the world’s top 100 rankings.
The Filipina will face either Britain’s Emma Raducanu or American Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.
With Toni Nadal among her team, Eala reflected on her success: “It’s so surreal… my coach told me to take every opportunity, because a five-time Slam champion is not going to give you the win.”
