Alex Eala has back-to-back wins over two Grand Slam champions at the Miami Open, and her dream run puts her on a collision course against a former world no. 2.
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala is making history at the 2025 Miami Open, advancing to the quarterfinals after securing back-to-back victories over two Grand Slam champions.
With these wins, the 19-year-old Eala became the first Filipino to defeat a Grand Slam champion at a WTA-level event, solidifying her place as one of the brightest young talents in the sport.
JELENA OSTAPENKO — 2017 French Open champion
[RELATED: Alex Eala stuns ex-Grand Slam champ, world no. 25 Jelena Ostapenko in Miami Open]
Eala’s stunning run began in the Round of 64, where she outlasted world no. 25 Jelena Ostapenko in a tense 7-6, 7-5 battle.
Ostapenko, is the 2017 Roland Garros champion and reached a career-high ranking of world no. 5 in 2018.
The 27-year-old Latvian has won eight singles titles in her career, but despite Ostapenko’s experience, Eala held her nerve in the clutch moments, securing her first-ever WTA win over a Grand Slam champion.
MADISON KEYS — 2025 Australian Open champion
[RELATED: Alex Eala stuns world no. 5 and Australian Open champion Madison Keys in Miami Open]
In the Round of 32, Eala produced an even bigger shocker, taking down world no. 5 Madison Keys in another sweep, 6-4, 6-2.
Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, claimed her first Grand Slam title in January, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the finale at Melbourne Park.
Currently at her career-high ranking, the American has been a top-10 contender since 2016 and boasts 10 singles titles.
PAULA BADOSA — former world no. 2
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With these two massive wins, Eala is set for another big challenge in the Round of 16 against world no. 11 Paula Badosa.
The Spanish star, a former world no. 2, has yet to win a Grand Slam but made a deep run at the 2025 Australian Open, reaching the semifinals. Her recent run of strong form also include making the Round of 16 at Wimbledon and a quarterfinals appearance at the US Open.
With four WTA singles titles under her belt, Badosa presents a tough test for Eala, bringing a blend of youthful energy and experience.
ALEX EALA - stunning rising star
Eala, currently ranked no. 140 in the world, has already surpassed expectations with her historic run.
Per the WTA, Eala is also the first Filipino to beat a WTA top-10 player in the Open era since the current ranking system was installed in 1975. This season, Eala is also the first player outside the top-100 to make a Round of 16 appearance in a WTA 1000 event.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]