Teenage sensation Alexandra Eala of the Philippines shocked the tennis world by toppling World No. 2 Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 in the Miami Open quarterfinals at Hard Rock Stadium. The 19-year-old wildcard’s upset victory on Day 9 propelled her into the semifinals, making her the first Filipino to reach this stage of a WTA 1000 tournament and sparking celebrations from Miami to Manila.
Eala, ranked No. 137 entering the event, dominated early, breaking Swiatek’s serve twice in the first set to claim it 6-2. The second set saw the five-time Grand Slam champion fight back, taking a 4-2 lead, but Eala rallied, winning five of the final six games. She sealed the match on her third match point with a blistering forehand winner, ending Swiatek’s run in 92 minutes.
“I can’t believe it,” Eala told reporters post-match. “Beating Iga is unreal—I’m just trying to soak it in.” The Filipino lefty’s dream run has been a tournament highlight. She ousted 2017 French Open champ Jelena Ostapenko in the third round and reigning Australian Open winner Madison Keys in the fourth, showcasing her growing prowess.
Against Swiatek, her aggressive baseline play and precise returns overwhelmed the Polish star, who admitted, “She played fearless tennis today.” Eala now faces World No. 4 Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, with a potential final berth on the line. Her Miami heroics have vaulted her into the WTA top 100, a first for the Rafa Nadal Academy alum.
Mentor Rafael Nadal praised her on X, calling her “a fighter and a talent to watch.” In the Philippines, the win drew national acclaim. Malacañang issued a statement lauding Eala’s “historic achievement,” while fans flooded social media with pride. Tournament officials reported record local viewership, with Eala’s matches drawing massive crowds.
Alexandra Eala continued her stunning run at the Miami Open by beating five-time grand slam champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets to reach the first semifinal of her young career. The 19-year-old wildcard won 6-2, 7-5 thanks to an accomplished display of power and precision, particularly on her lefty forehand and return of serve. No. 2 seeded Swiatek is now the third grand slam champion Eala, the world No. 140, has defeated en route to the last four in Miami, having already taken down Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys.
Eala has continued making Philippine tennis history in Miami, becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA semifinal. She will also become the first Filipina to break into the world’s top 100. In beating Ostapenko, Eala recorded her and the Philippines’ first win over a top-30 player. Both she—and, as a result, her country—now have three.
When Swiatek hit her backhand long on match point, Eala turned to face her box with a stunned expression on her face. “I don’t know what to say,” the 19-year-old said in her on-court interview. “I’m in complete disbelief right now, and I’m on cloud nine.” While this was the first time Eala and Swiatek had faced off on the court, it wasn’t the first time the pair had met. Eala began training at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain when she was 13 years old, and at her graduation ceremony in 2023, Swiatek was there as a keynote speaker.
When shown a photo of the two of them standing next to Nadal, Eala’s disbelief only grew. “It’s so surreal,” she said, per the WTA. “I feel like I’m the exact same person as I was in that photo. But of course, circumstances have changed! I’m so happy and so blessed to be able to compete with such a player on this stage.”
Her coach had advised her, “to run, to go for every ball, to take all the opportunities I can because a five-time (grand) slam champion is not going to give you the win.” The teenager has long been one of tennis’ most exciting prospects, winning the US Open girls’ singles title in 2022 and the girls’ doubles titles at the 2021 French Open and 2020 Australian Open. Her 2022 victory vaulted her to stardom back home and led to her gracing the cover of Vogue Philippines soon after.
Eala will next face No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula, who battled past a resurgent Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2, as she bids for yet more history. “We are extremely proud of you, Alex,” fellow lefty and 22-time grand slam singles champion Nadal wrote on X. “What an incredible tournament! Let’s keep dreaming!” In the other semifinal, Aryna Sabalenka will face Jasmine Paolini after the Belarusian world No. 1 extended her unbeaten head-to-head record over Zheng Qinwen to 6-0 with a 6-2, 7-5 win.
As the Miami Open continues, all eyes remain on the Filipino phenom rewriting the script. Eala's extraordinary performance has not only captured the hearts of her compatriots but also positioned her as a rising star in the world of tennis, making her next match against Pegula one to watch.
