Standing in the way of Alex Eala's Miami Open Final aspirations is world no. 4 Jessica Pegula.
After an incredible run to the 2025 Miami Open semifinals, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is set to face another tough challenge yet as she takes on world No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
The 31-year-old American, known for her consistency and tactical prowess, reached the semifinals after a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 win over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals.
Pegula has been in top form throughout the tournament, showcasing her dominance with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over world no. 23 Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 16. Prior to that, she edged past world no. 32 Anna Kalinskaya in a grueling three-set match, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6.
A mainstay in the WTA’s top 10 over the past few years, Pegula has established herself as one of the tour’s most consistent performers.
She has seven WTA singles titles to her name and has made deep runs in multiple Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open.
Pegula’s most recent accomplishment was reaching the 2024 US Open Final, where she lost to world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
While Pegula has yet to capture a major title, her powerful baseline game and intelligent shot-making have made her a formidable opponent for any player on tour.
For Eala, this match represents another massive test as she continues to break barriers for Philippine tennis.
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The 19-year-old has already taken down top-ranked opponents in Miami, but facing a battle-tested veteran like Pegula will be a true measure of how far she has come—and how much further she can go.
Eala and Pegula will battle it out tomorrow, March 28 at 8:30 a.m. (Manila time).
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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.]