Rafa Nadal Academy scholar Alex Eala has reached the Round of 16 in the Miami Open after taking down 2025 Australian Open Champion Madison Keys.
Make that another stunner for Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala as she pulled off a massive upset, this time against world no. 5 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, at the Miami Open on Sunday (early Monday morning, Manila time).
Just two days after taking down world no. 25 Jelena Ostapenko, Eala continued on her Cinderella run and pushed through to the Round of 16 in the WTA tournament.
This is the first time that a Filipino woman has beaten an opponent in the Top 10 of the Open Era. Eala has now also toppled two former Grand Slam winners — and in quick succession.
In the match, Eala attacked Keys’ second serve in the first set before she rode her momentum in set 2 to force the American into errors.
Eala now has another big assignment on her hands as she faces Paula Badosa of Spain in the Round of 16.
Badosa is ranked 11th in the world.
Badosa fended off Clara Tauson in the Round of 32 with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory a day before to set up the clash with Eala.