Teenage wild card Alexandra Eala achieved a remarkable feat at the Miami Open, overcoming No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek with a 6-2, 7-5 victory to advance to her首个 WTA semifinal. Eala demonstrated resilience by reversing a 4-2 deficit in the second set.
`I`m in complete disbelief right now, I`m on cloud nine,` an excited Eala expressed during her on-court interview. When presented with a photo from her Rafa Nadal Academy graduation nearly two years prior, featuring Swiatek alongside her, Eala`s astonishment only deepened.
`It`s incredibly surreal,` she remarked. `I feel like I haven`t changed from the person in that picture. However, my circumstances have drastically changed! I am incredibly happy and grateful for the chance to compete against such an accomplished player on this grand stage. My coach advised me to be proactive, to chase every ball, and to seize every opportunity, because a five-time Grand Slam champion will not simply hand you the win.`
Key Statistics of Eala`s Significant Upset
Eala, at 19 years old, has made history as the first player from the Philippines to reach a semifinal in a tour-level event. This achievement guarantees her place as the first Filipina to break into the Top 100 of the PIF WTA Rankings come next Monday. She also joins Justine Henin in 2010 and Victoria Azarenka in 2018 as only the third wild card entrant to reach the semifinals in Miami. Notably, both Henin and Azarenka were former World No. 1 players returning from extended breaks.
Ranked No. 140, Eala`s impressive run in this tournament includes victories over Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys. She is now only the second wild card, after Elina Svitolina at Wimbledon 2023, to defeat three or more Grand Slam champions in a single tour-level tournament. Prior to Miami, Eala had never secured a win against an opponent in the Top 40, nor had she ever faced anyone within the Top 20. She now boasts two Top 10 victories to her name.
This result marks only Swiatek`s third defeat to a player ranked outside the Top 100 in a WTA main draw. Her previous losses were against Karolina Muchova (ranked No. 106 at the time) in the first round of Prague 2019 and Ana Konjuh (ranked No. 338 at the time) in the third round of Miami 2021.
Looking ahead, Eala is set to compete against either No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula or Emma Raducanu as she aims to reach her first ever WTA final.
How Eala Achieved the Victory
The intensity of the match was evident right from the start, with the initial four games stretching over 25 minutes as each went to deuce at least once. Service breaks were frequent in the early stages, occurring in five of the first six games. From the outset, Eala established two crucial points: first, her ability to compete directly with the five-time major champion; and second, her mental fortitude to remain composed even when facing setbacks in long deuce battles and when her lead was challenged.
When Swiatek executed a backhand winner to break back for 3-2, it appeared she had seized control of the momentum. However, Eala quickly countered, winning eight consecutive points and five games in a row to take a 2-0 lead in the second set.
Up to this point, Eala had been in a phase of exceptional play, marked by stunning winners. Her left-handed forehand stood out, earning her three winners in a single game to break for a 3-1 lead in the first set. However, the young player also demonstrated versatility by mixing up her gameplay with her backhand and incorporating well-timed drop shots, effectively closing out the first set. Swiatek was repeatedly caught off guard.
The consistent aggression of Eala`s returns, often positioned well inside the baseline, proved to be effective. Eala managed to win a higher percentage of second-serve points (50%) compared to Swiatek`s first-serve points won (47%). Notably, Swiatek only managed to win two points on her second serve throughout the entire match.
`She was completely committed,` Swiatek commented in the press conference. `Her returns landed deep and accurately, making it challenging to respond effectively. She played with a sense of freedom and just went for her shots.`
At 2-0 in the second set, Eala committed a double fault, which was immediately followed by Swiatek`s best shot of the day – a powerful forehand crosscourt winner. Swiatek then held serve for the first time in the subsequent game, and the 2022 champion proceeded to win four consecutive games, establishing a 4-2 lead. However, she was unable to maintain this momentum.
After accumulating 19 unforced errors in the first set, Swiatek added another 13 in the second set. While Eala`s consistency and depth contributed to these errors early in the match, the latter part of the second set saw rallies become quicker and more erratic. Swiatek also faltered while serving for the set at 5-4 and ultimately collapsed in the final game of the match, committing three uncharacteristic forehand errors. On Eala`s first match point, the Filipina delivered another deep return, forcing Swiatek`s backhand to land beyond the baseline, sealing the victory.
Eala`s Explanation of Her Victory
Throughout Eala`s press conference, the composed teenager repeatedly used one word to describe her mindset: compartmentalization.
`I don`t have extensive experience on the WTA Tour, that’s definitely true,` she acknowledged. `However, I am experienced in compartmentalizing. I am familiar with maintaining professionalism. I have no hesitation in bringing out that aspect of myself when I am on the court and in situations that demand a professional approach.`
Eala`s ability to separate her nerves from her execution during each point is rooted in her family background. Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, is a Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist in the 100m backstroke and previously held the position of chief financial officer for one of the largest telecommunications companies in the Philippines. Her uncle, Noli Eala, is the former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association.
`This is not something I specifically learned at the academy,` she clarified. `It’s something I’ve developed from my experiences leading up to this point. It’s also something my family has guided me in, and it’s part of our family values. They are successful individuals in business and in their respective fields, and they are people I deeply admire.`
Eala was so focused on staying present in the moment that when it was time to celebrate her victory, she appeared uncertain whether to shout with joy or cry.
`I was indecisive myself,` she admitted. `I think I was so engrossed in the moment, making a conscious effort to be present for every point, that it became difficult to fully grasp what had just occurred. It was hard to immediately realize that I had won the match. I really tried to absorb everything, because this was a completely new experience for me, and that’s why I was looking at the screen – I wanted to preserve that moment in my memory.`
