Manila, Philippines, March 27, 2025: The Philippines’ rising tennis star, Alex Eala, has caused one of the shocks of the WTA Tour by defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on March 26.
The 19-year-old left-hander, an Asian Games bronze medallist in women’s singles at Hangzhou 2022, beat the five-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 7-5.
It was the latest of a string of stunning results for the world No. 140, who had already beaten former French Open champion and world No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko and reigning Australian Open champion and world No. 5 Madison Keys.
"I'm in complete disbelief right now. I'm on cloud nine. So thank you everybody who came to watch, and thanks to everyone who's watching from home," Eala told AFP.
"My coach told me to run, to go for every ball, take all the opportunities I can because a five-time Grand Slam champion is not gonna give you the win," she added when asked to reflect on her performance.
Her incredible victory made headlines in the New York Times and newspapers around the world, as well as nearer home in the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, China and, of course, the mass media back home.
The twin influences on her career were evident in her box -- her parents had flown in from the Philippines for the game as had an uncle and cousin based in Seattle but sat with them was Toni Nadal, the Spanish great's uncle and former coach, representing the Rafa Nadal Academy.
"It means a lot that he showed up. It showed his confidence and the confidence of the Academy in me," said Eala.
Eala showed her promise at the Hangzhou Asian Games, losing 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6 to Zheng Qinwen (China) in the semi-finals to take the bronze medal. Zheng, the eventual gold medallist in Hangzhou, would go on to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.