Filipina teen Alex Eala will collide with world no. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals in Miami.
Riding the momentum of a historic Cinderella run, Alex Eala is set to face the biggest challenge of her young career as she battles world no. 2 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open 2025 on Wednesday, March 26 (Manila time).
The 19-year-old Filipina has already stunned the tennis world with her remarkable performance at this WTA 1000 event, earning victories over higher-ranked opponents, including Madison Keys (6-4, 6-2) in the Round of 32.
She was supposed to face Paula Badosa in the Round of 16, but the Spaniard withdrew due to injury, allowing Eala to advance via walkover.
[READ:
Alex Eala through to Miami Open quarters after Paula Badosa withdraws due to injury]
Now, the biggest match of Eala’s career awaits as she takes on five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, a former World No. 1 who has been in dominant form, most recently defeating Elina Svitolina in straight sets.
Although Swiatek is the heavy favorite, Eala has reason to believe she can pull off another upset.
Her two most recent high-profile victims—Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys—have both beaten Swiatek this year, proving that even the world’s best can be vulnerable.
If Eala can capitalize on this momentum and pull off another shocker, she is projected to breach the Top 100 in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career.
By making it this far, Eala has already placed herself among elite company, joining a quarterfinal lineup that includes World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, China’s Qinwen Zheng, and Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
A victory over Swiatek would be Eala’s biggest breakthrough yet, solidifying her status as a rising star in women’s tennis. With nothing to lose, the Filipina phenom is set to give it her all in Miami.