Alexandra Eala Looks Forward to Competing Again at Miami Open: “That’s What Put Me on the Map”
Alexandra Eala defeated Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek in the 2025 Miami Open.
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Alexandra Eala (Image via Tennis Channel)
- Alexandra Eala is set to compete again at the Miami Open after a successful run last year, reaching the semifinals.
- She has achieved a career-high ranking of No.31 and is on the verge of breaking into the top 30.
- Eala has a 3-3 win-loss record against top 10 players and aims to establish herself further on the WTA circuit.
Alexandra Eala is gearing up to make her debut at Indian Wells. After the first WTA 1000 Sunshine Doubles event, the Filipino will be returning to the tournament that put her “on the map“.
Last year, Eala, ranked No.140, received a wild card for the Miami Open, and she seized the opportunity by reaching the semifinals, where eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula eliminated her. En route to the last four, Eala created quite a stir as she was knocking out Grand Slam champions one after the other.
She started by eliminating Jelena Ostapenko in the second round, before downing the then reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys. After receiving the walkover from Paula Badosa, Eala defeated the player who handed her the graduation certificate at the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2023: six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, in the quarterfinals. Her run helped her crack the top 100 in the rankings for the first time.
I think everything after Miami was a new experience, being ranked in the top 100 for the first time, but I was wide awake. I was really eager to compete and be at this level. Ultimately, my dream is to be on the WTA circuit. It’s to be a professional tennis player, and I’m achieving it. I think that Miami tournament is the highlight of my career so far. That’s what put me on the map. Everything fell into place from then on. I look back on that moment and think, ‘Wow, that was crazy!’ It’s crazy to believe that actually happened.
Alexandra Eala said during The Sit-Down podcast
Eala reached a WTA 1000 quarterfinal for the second time in this year’s Dubai Tennis Championships. She crashed out with a straight-set defeat at the hands of two-time Grand Slam singles champion Coco Gauff, but before that, she beat two-time Grand Slam singles finalist Jasmine Paolini, registering her third top 10 win of her career. Eala holds a 3-3 win-loss record over the top 10 players
Alexandra Eala reveals who her idols were growing up
During that aforementioned The Sit-Down podcast, Alexandra Eala was asked why she picked up the tennis racket for her career. Then she revealed who her idols were growing up.
I got into tennis because of my brother. He is three years older than me and he started playing tennis. So when it came time for me to pick up a sport, I think they just threw me in with him, and I ended up loving it.
So far in her career, the 20-year-old has played one tour-level final, at the 2025 Eastbourne Open, where Maya Joint denied her the win in three sets.
Obviously, Rafa Nadal was a big one. On the girls’ side, I really looked up to Maria Sharapova and Li Na. And then the others later on were [Simona] Halep and [Ash] Barty.
Alexandra Eala added
This year, Eala has so far played six tournaments. Prior to her defeat in Dubai, Eala made her debut at the Qatar Open, where Tereza Valentova knocked her out in the opening round. Eala is on the verge of becoming a top 30 player. She reached her career-best No.31 in February and currently occupies the same spot.
In Grand Slam events, Eala has yet to progress to the third round. She has played the main draw matches of every Major, reaching the first rounds of the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. While at the US Open, she made the second round. This year, she made her debut in the Melbourne Slam, where Alycia Parks beat her in three sets.
Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Restarts Feud With Former Coach Goran Ivanisevic: “I Regret Certain Decisions”
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