THE Philippines’ Alex Eala needs to believe that she is ready for her next big fight in the 2025 Miami Tennis Open women’s singles competition.
The 19-year-old Eala said this as she takes a short rest period before facing world no. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland on Wednesday.
“There have been many times where I would have been playing players like Madison (Keys) and (Jelena) Ostapenko. But I couldn’t because I lost the round before. And now looking back, when you connect the dots, I feel, it’s because I wasn’t ready at that time,” said Eala on online video interview on tennis.com.
“And you think, it’s kind of God’s way of saying I wasn’t ready. And I have to believe that I’m ready,” added Eala.
Eala moved into the first-ever Women’s Tennis Association Tour quarterfinals of her career when her fourth-round, round of 16 foe, no. 10 seed Paula Badosa, pulled out due to injury of their scheduled encounter.
Badosa got hurt following a close 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over in-form Dubai finalist Clara Tauson and she needed a medical timeout earlier in the match after hurting her lower back.
Eala’s live WTA ranking leapfrogged to a new career-high of 102 from 140 after her upsets wins over no. 25 Ostapenko in the second round and no. 5 Keys in the third.
Her upsets saw Eala becoming the first Filipina to score wins in any Grand Slam singles’ WTA Tour event.
Swiatek faces an unexpected opponent in Eala, who many believe cannot be taken lightly by the three-time French Open champion and 2022 US Open winner.
“I have to believe I’m ready because I have been given this opportunity. I worked for this opportunity, and I have to take advantage of what I have,” added Eala.
The five-time major champion Swiatek is seeking her first title of the year and she got closer to her goal with a hard-earned 7-6 (5), 6-3 triumph over No. 22 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
Swiatek, who won the Miami Open in 2022, battled for two hours and 5 minutes to get past former the world No. 3 Svitolina.
Also in the quarterfinals are top seed Aryna Sabalenka and fourth seed Jessica Pegula.