Alexandra Eala stuns Iga Swiatek to make history for the Philippines at Miami Open

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Alexandra Eala surprised World No 2 Iga Swiatek to achieve the Miami Open semi-finals and make historical past for tennis within the Philippines. The teenage wildcard defeated an out-of-sorts Swiatek 6-2 7-5 and can now play both fourth seed Jessica Pegula or Britain’s Emma Raducanu for a spot within the ultimate.

World No 140 Eala broke additional floor in Miami by turning into the primary participant from the Philippines to achieve a WTA 1000 semi-final.

The wildcard has now crushed three grand slam champions on her option to the ultimate 4; having beforehand crushed reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, Eala didn’t blink as she knocked out five-time grand slam winner Swiatek in straight units.

The 19-year-old, who gained the US Open ladies title in 2022, is a graduate of Rafael Nadal’s tennis academy in Mallorca, transferring there from the Philippines when she was simply 13. She is coached by Nadal’s uncle, Toni Nadal, and can be left-handed, just like the Spanish 22-time grand slam winner.

Eala, who had performed simply two matches on the WTA Tour previous to receiving a wildcard into essential draw of the Miami Open, will transfer into the top-100 for the primary time. Swiatek had not misplaced to an opponent ranked exterior the top-100 in 4 years.

“I don’t know what to say!” Eala mentioned in her on-court interview. “I’m in full disbelief proper now. I’m on cloud 9. Thanks everybody who got here to look at and because of everybody who’s watching again residence.

“It’s so surreal. I’m so glad and so blessed to compete in opposition to such a participant on such a stage. My coach informed me to run, to go for each ball, to take each alternative you may, as a result of a five-time grand slam champion just isn’t going to provide the win. That is eternally in my coronary heart.”

Swiatek struggled against Eala — Swiatek struggled in opposition to Eala (IMAGN IMAGES through Reuters Join)

The defeat continues a tough run for former World No 1 Swiatek, who was taking part in below elevated safety safety after being verbally abused by a man throughout a observe session in Miami on Saturday. A press release from Swiatek’s workforce mentioned the person had additionally despatched the five-time grand slam winner harassing messages on-line.

The Polish participant, who’s with no title in 2025, took to Instagram following her semi-final defeat in Indian Wells earlier this month to criticise “unhealthy requirements” and “fixed judgement”, saying that the previous couple of months had been “extraordinarily difficult” following her one-month suspension for a doping violation.

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