Filipina tennis ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala has made history at the 2025 Miami Open, delivering a career-defining performance that cemented her status as a rising global star in women’s tennis.
The 19-year-old athlete from the Philippines powered through a series of stunning victories against some of the world’s top-seeded Grand Slam champions—including World No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko, World No. 18 Madison Keys, and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek—before facing World No. 4 Jessica Pegula in today’s thrilling semifinal showdown.
WATCH: Alex Eala fights back in the second set against Jessica Pegula in this WTA highlight
ITS NOT OVER YET 🙅♀️
Alexandra Eala has forced the decider after taking the second set 7-5!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/Eyeig1rTkk
— wta (@WTA) March 28, 2025
Eala pushed Pegula to the limit in a grueling 2-hour and 26-minute battle that ended in a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 result in favor of the American. The match ended just past Thursday midnight in Miami (Friday morning in Manila), as reported by the WTA:
“In the nightcap, Pegula needed 2 hours and 26 minutes to see off Eala, whose Cinderella run came to an end as Thursday turned into Friday in Miami. From 5-2 down to start the match, Pegula turned around the opening set — crucially breaking serve at 5-3 after Eala double-faulted on set point, on the way to a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 victory.”
The intense semifinal match left even the world No. 4 visibly spent.
“I’m so tired, so, so tired,” Pegula said in her on-court interview after being “pushed to the limit” by the talented young left-hander, who had stunned both Australian Open champion Madison Keys and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek earlier in the tournament.
“She’s really good. She’s a really good tennis player, goes for her shots, takes the ball early … competes really well, she’s beaten a lot of top players this week — I don’t think she needs me to tell her that she’s a great player, that we’re not going to see enough of her, we definitely are, and she proved that tonight.”
WATCH: Alex Eala receives a standing ovation and thunderous applause from the Miami crowd as she wraps up her inspiring run in the tournament—an emotional moment that proves the world is taking notice of the rising Filipina tennis star.
😃 After winning and 😃☺️ after losing.
❤️ Alex Eala 🇵🇭❤️
— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) March 28, 2025
WATCH: Highlights of Eala’s Miami Open semifinal match against Pegula
With her semifinal performance, Eala is now assured a spot inside the Top 75 WTA Rankings, a massive leap from her pre-tournament rank of World No. 140.
She turned professional just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, halting tournaments and slowing momentum for many young athletes. Despite that, Eala steadily built up her game, eventually netting the US Open Girls’ Singles title, along with a string of ITF titles in both singles and doubles.
WATCH: Alex Eala’s message after beating Iga Swiatek—“Philippine tennis can be a big thing.”
“The only way I can give back to my country is to help inspire positive change, inspiring more people to pick up a racquet, watch more tennis, watch more women’s tennis. I think that tennis in the Philippines has so much potential. Because even though it’s not as widespread as other sports, I feel that we have a lot of hidden talent, and if we can have the support to back it up, and the exposure to back it up, then I think Philippine Tennis can be a big thing.” – Alex Eala
WATCH: Alex Eala credits her parents and the Rafa Nadal Academy for her foundation in tennis
☺️ Alex ☺️ pic.twitter.com/72FiPnP5Ze
— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) March 27, 2025
With the world now watching, Alex Eala is proving that Filipino tennis has arrived—and it’s only the beginning.
Mabuhay ka, Alex Eala! The Philippines is proud of you.
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