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Eala advances to Miami Open quarterfinals after Badosa withdrawal
Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has etched her name in history, securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
The 19-year-old moved forward after Spain’s Paula Badosa, ranked No. 11 in the world, withdrew due to a lower back injury during their Round of 16 matchup on Monday, March 24 (Tuesday, March 25, Manila time).
Eala’s stellar performance throughout the tournament already included massive upsets. She stunned the World No. 5 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, as well as No. 25 and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, to advance to the fourth round.
PHOTO COURTESY: WTA
“It’s a big thing to take in, and I feel it’s important for me to take it in step by step. I’m so super proud of what I was able to accomplish, but it definitely fuels me more,” she said after beating Keys.
Her victory over Keys etched her name in the history books, making her the first Filipina to defeat a top-10 player since the WTA rankings were introduced in 1975.
Eala also becomes the first Filipino to ever reach the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event. She now awaits the winner of a high-stakes match between World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion from Poland, and No. 22 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
Despite winning her previous three matches in straight sets, Eala had to grind through each one against tough opponents. However, this time, she received an unexpected break as Badosa’s withdrawal granted her automatic passage to the next round.
The victory also marked another milestone for Eala, surpassing the previous best result by a Filipino in a high-level tennis event.
Cecil Mamiit, who once played for the Philippine national team, reached the semifinals of the 2002 Brasil Open, an ATP 500 event. However, at that time, Mamiit was still representing the United States.
This breakthrough tournament has propelled Eala to new heights in the WTA rankings. Previously ranked No. 140 in the world, she has now climbed to No. 102 in the live rankings, her highest career placement yet. The surge brings her within striking distance of breaking into the world’s top 100.
With her confidence soaring and momentum on her side, Eala now prepares for her toughest test yet in the Miami Open quarterfinals.
