A standing ovation and a sea of Philippine flag-waving supporters greeted Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala as she exited the court, her Miami Open dream run coming to an end against world No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
Despite her valiant effort, experience ultimately prevailed, with the 19-year-old Eala bowing out in the semifinals of the women’s singles after a hard-fought three-set battle that lasted two hours and 26 minutes. Pegula advanced to the finals, where she will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.
Eala, ranked No. 140 in the world, captivated tennis fans with a stunning performance throughout the tournament, scoring impressive wins over three Grand Slam champions: 25th seed Jelena Ostapenko, reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, and former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
“I literally gave everything I had. I’m like a mummy. I did everything and I have no regrets,” Eala said after ending her Miami Open in fighting fashion.
Her fearless play and determination did not go unnoticed. Even Pegula, a seasoned competitor, acknowledged Eala’s grit and talent.
“Yeah, I mean, she’s really good. A really good tennis player. She goes for her shots, takes it all early, and she competes really well,” Pegula said. “She’s beaten a lot of top players this week. I don’t think she needs to be told that she’s a great player.”
Eala showed grit from the start, fighting through a physically demanding match with a strapped left thigh. A nasty fall early in the second set saw her receiving additional taping, but she continued to push through the pain.
The Filipina took the first set to a tiebreaker after overcoming Pegula’s initial 5-2 lead. However, Pegula held firm, forcing Eala into a series of forehand errors to clinch the opener.
Eala struck back in the second set, engaging Pegula in a battle of breaks before securing a 7-5 victory to level the match. The crowd erupted as Eala’s precision and perseverance forced a decider.
In the third set, Eala held her own, staying toe-to-toe with Pegula until a crucial break at 3-all tilted the momentum. Pegula then surged ahead, closing out the match after capitalizing on a forehand error from Eala in the ninth game.
Pegula, 31, acknowledged that the world will be seeing more of Eala in the future.
“We’re not going to see enough of her yet. But we are. And she’s proven herself tonight,” Pegula said.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, will look to bounce back in the Miami Open finals after falling to Mirra Andreeva in the Indian Wells final earlier this month. The Belarusian secured her place in the championship match with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win over sixth seed Jasmine Paolini.
For Eala, this Miami Open journey has been remarkable, cementing her as a rising star in women’s tennis.
“To have a week like this, the stars need to align, and they did this week. Hopefully, I can keep that up. That is my goal now,” she said.
With her fearless spirit and undeniable talent, the future looks incredibly bright for the young Filipina, who has already proven she belongs on the sport’s biggest stages.