PNA
MANILA – The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala will be facing one of the biggest challenges of her rising career in the United States’ Miami Open third round at 1:30 a.m. Monday (PH time).
The wild card will be up against world No. 5 and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys of the US at Hard Rock Stadium.
She previously ousted unseeded American Katie Volynets, 6-3, 7-6(3); and Latvian world No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko, 7-6(2), 7-5.
“Still processing the emotions of yesterday, but more importantly, getting ready for tomorrow,” Eala posted on Facebook.
Her victory over Ostapenko reduced her to tears and earned her a message from retired 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
“Congratulations, Alex! What a great win for you and for the Philippines (flag icon)!” Nadal wrote on X.
Eala, who turns 20 in May, was a student of the Rafa Nadal Academy for about six years until 2023. She continues to train at the Mallorca, Spain facility.
Another Nadal ward, Coleman Wong of Hong Kong, is likewise into the men’s third round.
Against the 2017 French Open winner Ostapenko, Eala won 58 service points as against her opponent’s 41.
As a juniors player, Eala won the girls’ doubles titles in the 2020 Australian Open (with Indonesian Priska Madelyn) and 2021 French Open (with Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva), and the 2022 US Open girls’ singles title.
She is currently ranked No. 140 but is the only Filipino player on the professional tour. (PNA)
