Alexandra Eala relives the experience of Iga Swiatek attending her graduation ceremony at the Rafael Nadal academy

Alexandra Eala experienced a full-circle moment when she defeated her high school graduation guest, Iga Swiatek, in the 2025 Miami open quarter-finals.

Alexandra Eala relives the experience of Iga Swiatek attending her graduation ceremony at the Rafael Nadal academy

Iga Swiatek at Alexandra Eala's graduation (Image via Rafa Nadal Academy)

Rafa Nadal Academy protege Alexandra Eala recently had a dream run at the 2025 Miami Open. Though she lost in the semifinals, the 19-year-old won the hearts of thousands of fans. Entering the tournament as a wildcard, the Filipino defeated three Grand Slam champions in straight sets before facing defeat to Jessica Pegula. 

Eala outplayed Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek. Her quarterfinal match with Swiatek was one of the most highly anticipated matches of the tournament, and it was even attended by Toni Nadal, who came in to show his support for Eala. 

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Swiatek was invited as a guest during Eala’s high school graduation in 2023. Eala’s graduation photos with Rafael Nadal and Swiatek became viral during her impressive run at Miami. She called Swiatek’s presence at her graduation “super inspirational” and felt surreal to face the World No. 2 in the Miami Open quarterfinals.

She was like ‘Oh I know you.’ I was like ‘yes, she knows me!’ She did the whole ceremony with the class. She tossed the hat. I felt so lucky I was beside her.

Alexandra Eala on having Iga Swiatek as the guest during her graduation ceremony

The teenager has been overwhelmingly acknowledged and even lauded by Rafael Nadal himself throughout her Miami campaign. She has been training at the academy since she was 13 years old. After her sensational performance in Miami, Eala has broken into the WTA top 100, becoming the highest-ranked Filipino tennis player.

Jessica Pegula compares Alexandra Eala to Leyla Fernandez

Alexandra Eala had seemed unstoppable until fourth seed Jessica Pegula put a halt to her run with a hard-fought victory in three sets. However, even after this defeat, Eala was beaming with joy and waving to the crowd. Speaking to the press after her semi-final win, Pegula remarked that Eala reminded her of Leylah Fernandez.

Alexandra Eala Miami Open 2025 semifinal
Alexandra Eala after her Miami Open 2025 semifinal defeat (Image via @JJlovesTennis)

She reminds me of a Leylah Fernandez; she takes the ball super early, uses the angles really well, uses the line forehand really well. She definitely takes the ball early and anticipates well, looks to move in. So all those things are going to take her far.

Jessica Pegula said via Miami Open press conference

Fernandez enjoyed a breakout performance in the 2021 US Open when she was 19 years old. The Canadian knocked out three top-five seeds, including defending champion Naomi Osaka, on her way to the final in New York. In the final, Fernandez came up against qualifier Emma Raducanu, who had not dropped a set en route to the finals. Despite Fernandez’s best efforts, the Brit lifted the trophy high in Arthur Ashe Stadium after a straight-set victory.

Jessica Pegula will face Aryna Sabalenka in the Miami Open finals

Pegula has also had a fairly decent performance this season. Earlier in the year, she clinched the ATX Open title, a WTA 250 tournament. Pegula will now face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Miami Open finals. This marks the first Miami Open finals for both players.

Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 8-2. They last met at the 2024 US Open finals, where Sabalenka defeated Pegula to win her third Singles Grand Slam title. 

Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula
Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula (Image via X/We Are Tennis, Daily Tribune)

Sabalenka is the sixth player this century to reach the finals of both the Indian Wells and Miami Open back-to-back, following Kim Clijsters (2005), Maria Sharapova (2006, 2012, 2013), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Iga Swiatek (2022) and Elena Rybakina (2023). She lost the Indian Wells final to 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva two weeks ago but has not lost a set — or even been taken to a tiebreak — in Miami so far.