Alexandra Eala makes feelings known on surprise Toni Nadal appearance after toppling Iga Swiatek in Miami
Toni Nadal watched Rafa Nadal Academy graduate Alexandra Eala secure a straight-set victory over World No.2 Iga Swiatek.
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Iga Swiatek, Toni Nadal, Alexandra Eala (Image via X/@JJLovesTennis, @madel_suravilla, @TheTennisLetter)
Alexandra Eala scripted history at the Miami Open by getting the better of World No.2 Iga Swiatek. In the quarterfinals they played on Wednesday (March 26), Eala denied the Pole a chance to claim her first title of the season with a 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Eala previously was a student at Rafa Nadal Academy. Rafael Nadal‘s uncle and former coach Toni Nadal, who now serves as the ambassador for the tennis academy in Manacor, was in the stands watching Eala achieve the biggest result of her career by beating the 23-year-old. Following her memorable victory, the 19-year-old revealed how she felt about Toni attending her match.
Well, I worked very closely with Toni alongside of course my coach Joan, Sandro, and the other people from the academy. It meant a lot that he showed up here. I know that he had to catch a flight but it showed the confidence he had in me and the confidence the academy had in me.
Alexandra Eala said on Tennis Channel
Swiatek, who was searching for her first title since the 2024 French Open, failed to hold her serve throughout the match against a composed Eala who, as per Swiatek, intended to go forward and pressure her. The tactics worked for the teenager, who is assured of a spot inside the top 100 for the first time in her career. This will make her the first Filipina to be ranked inside the top 100.
Alexandra Eala reveals her two bold goals for her career
Alexandra Eala has become the first Filipina to book a spot in a WTA semifinal. She has also progressed to the last four stages of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time. Along with this, the teen sensation became the third wild card participant to reach the Miami Open semifinals following Justine Henin (2010) and Victoria Azarenka (2018).
En route to shocking five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, Eala also knocked out 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the second and third rounds, respectively. Eala was on “cloud nine“ after toppling Swiatek but a win in the WTA 1000 events is not her only goal, for she is a “big dreamer“.
As I said before, winning Grand Slams and becoming number one have always been my ultimate goals. I think this result has come at the right time. Being a successful junior doesn’t mean you will be a successful professional, so I set out to work hard every day and trust that my moment would come, and I hope this is the moment.
Alexandra Eala said at the press conference
Eala became the only third player from outside the top 100 to hand Swiatek a defeat in main draw events following Ana Konjuh and Karolina Muchova. She has also registered wins over two top 10 players for the first time in her career.
Alexandra Eala to play Jessica Pegula next
Alexandra Eala will face another tough opponent in the semifinals. She is pitted against fourth seed Jessica Pegula, who got the better of a resurgent Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals.
Both Eala and Pegula will battle it out to book a spot in the Miami Open final for the first time. The American has already clinched the ATX Open this year and reached the Adelaide International final.
The 31-year-old has progressed to her third semifinals at the Miami Open, following her appearance in the last four in 2022 and 2023 which she lost to eventual winner Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, respectively. Last year at Miami Gardens, Pegula was defeated by Ekaterina Alexandrova in the quarterfinals.
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