It's past midnight at the Miami Open and the Cinderella run ends for Alex Eala. The Filipina showcased grit, determination, perseverance, and resilience in her tough three-set semifinals against world no. 4 Jessica Pegula.
Alex Eala's magical Cinderella run comes to an end in the semifinals.
World no. 4 Jessica Pegula swept the Filipina at the Miami Open, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3.
Eala, the world number 140 who is projected to break into the WTA top 100 next week, made sure to put the tennis world on notice with her Cinderella run as a wild card in the Miami Open.
With a taped ankle and a game away from losing it all, Eala showed incredible determination and resilience to force Pegula to three sets.
Now playing at night after multiple day matches, Eala immediately showed she was not afraid of the limelight--firing point of the match and taking the first game.
The aggression that world no. 2 Iga Swiatek noted in Eala's game play was in full display, as the Filipina broke Pegula's serve, 2-0.
But the world no. 4 was not deterred in their first meeting, taking a break point of her own and fires nine points in a row against Eala.
With the 19-year-old Filipina committing error after error at the baseline, she shifted tactics and faced Pegula at the net--stealing game 4 from the American and stopping her momentum.
Eala regained her composure to break Pegula once again with an insane angle, taking three games in a row, 5-2.
"She's everywhere right now," the commentator remarked.
The world no. 4 though did not allow herself to roll over and fought back to get three games of her own, 5-5. A tough, tight, and tense tie-break saw Pegula make five straight points to snatch the first set, 7-6(3).
This is Eala's first set loss in this Miami Open, with four double faults. The American though gets the advantage though by winning on the first serve, 80% compared to the Filipina's 61%.
Pegula also had the edge in receives, 21-15.
There was a scary moment in the first game of the second set when Eala twisted her left ankle and fell to the ground. But she quickly got up and assured the crowd, getting applause. She got a point afterwards.
The Filipina got back on track against Jessica Pegula to get a game in, 1-1. But frustration was starting to set in as the American forged ahead, 2-1.
A medical timeout had to be called for Eala's ankle to be taped.
It seemed to work to get the Filipina going, as she yells and pumps her fist to snatch two games, 3-3. Her aggressiveness returned, forcing Pegula to go down and cede the break point, 4-3.
From being down, 3-1, Eala has snatched three straight games.
The American though reached far and long in her bag to get the advantage, 5-4. She's one game away from the Miami Open finals.
Not one to go down without a fight, the 2022 US Open juniors champion kept Pegula at bay. The Filipina was relentless and frustrated the American, winning three straight games to force a third set, 7-5.
Eala broke Pegula's serve three times in the second set.
GRABE YUNG PUSO 🇵🇭???🔥
Tweaked ankle and all, Alex Eala battled through to force a third and deciding set against World No. 4 Jessica Pegula, —this Miami Open semifinal is going the distance! #MiamiOpen #OneSports
📸 Screengrab courtesy of Premier Sports Network 2 pic.twitter.com/tLdWYDz7Jk
Getting tight in the third set, Pegula and Eala go into a back-and-forth at 3-3. Every time, the American got a game ahead. Every time, the Filipina clawed her way back.
For the second time in this match, Pegula is just a game away from taking the whole semifinals match against Eala at 5-3.
With two crucial forehand errors and two points away from a loss, Eala asked the crowd for support. But Pegula's clutch play at the net gives her the match point advantage.
Eala's error gives Pegula the victory.
It's a stunning WTA 1000 run for Eala, who took down three former Grand Slam champions in world no. 25 Jelena Ostapenko, world no. 5 Madison Keys, and world no. 2 Iga Swiatek without dropping a single set.
Pegula will face world number one and top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the Miami Open finals.