At the 2025 Miami Open, Alexandra Eala etched her name in tennis history with a stunning upset against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. The 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation dominated in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, securing a spot in the semifinals.
Eala kicked off the match against her idol with unwavering determination, breaking her serve twice. Świątek struggled to find her rhythm early on, racking up 19 unforced errors in the first set as Eala applied relentless pressure.
As Eala reached the second double break, she returned from a 4-2 deficit to claim her biggest career triumph over Swiatek in the match. With this win, she powered into the semifinals, having defeated three Grand Slam champions in a row – Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and now Świątek.
In the post-match interview, Swiatek admitted Eala’s powerful returns and impressive shot selection caught her off guard. Despite the defeat, the Polish star looks optimistically toward future matches on clay courts.
This historic victory marks a breakthrough moment in Eala’s rising tennis career. As the first Filipina to ever reach a WTA semifinal, she is now on the verge of breaking into the Top 100 rankings. Next up, she faces world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.
With the entire Philippines rallying behind her, Alexandra Eala continues to carve her own path in the tennis world.