Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has made history again.
The 19-year-old Quezon City native stunned world no. 5 Madison Keys, 6-4, 6-2, on Monday morning as she continued her dream run at the WTA 1000 Miami Open. With the stunning—and surprisingly one-sided—victory, Eala made history as the first Filipino tennis player to defeat a Top 10 player. More importantly, she advanced to the Round of 16, where she’s guaranteed a six-figure paycheck.
“I’m so blank,” said Eala, ranked no. 140 in the world, in her on-court interview after her stunning win. “I’m thinking of my parents. Mom and Dad, nakuha ko! My God.”
Keys looked primed to stop Eala’s improbable run, controlling the first seven games of the match and keeping the young Filipina at bay. But Eala broke Keys in the ninth game, 5-4, to set up a crucial first set victory. Eala continued her stellar play in the second set, breaking Keys twice—first at 3-2 and then at 5-2—to ultimately seal the historic win.
Alex Eala’s Dream Run at Miami Open
Eala’s victory over Keys comes on the heels of her stunning 7-6, 7-5 upset of world no. 25 Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 64. That win was historic as well, as it was a first time a Filipino tennis player beat someone ranked in the Top 30 in the world rankings.
“I’m super overwhelmed right now. This win means so much to me,” Eala shared in a post-match interview. “I knew I had to stay composed and believe in myself.”
Eala believed, all right, and that belief carried her past her fancied opponent in what was at that time the biggest victory of her WTA career. It was a huge victory that tennis legend Rafael Nadal noticed, as he congratulated Eala on her career breakthrough. Eala, of course, is a graduate of the famed Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy.
From Wildcard to History-Maker: Alex Eala Is Raising the Philippine Flag High
Alex Eala’s exploits at the prestigious WTA 1000 Miami Open is even more impressive and inspiring considering that she’s the only Filipino battling on the professional tennis tour. That means she’s carrying the entire nation on her shoulders in Miami as the only Filipino tennis player in the Top 1000. And it’s something Eala isn’t taking lightly.
“Competing on tour and representing the Philippines means everything to me,” she shared at the WTA’s new Rally the World campaign. “Being a professional tennis player, and the only Filipina on tour, where I come from is such a big part of my identity.”
This dream run started with Eala beating Katie Volynets, 6-3, 7-6 in the Round of 128. Two historic wins later, Eala is now just four victories away from what would be a breakthrough title.
The Road Ahead for Alex Eala
The road ahead only gets tougher for the 19-year-old as she is set to face world no. 10 Paula Badosa of Spain in the Round of 16. At stake in this match is a quarterfinals berth—and, for Alex Eala, a chance to make even more history.
The match is on Tuesday morning, March 25.
