Alex Eala defeats World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in Miami Open, advances to semifinals
In a major upset and yet another historic feat, Filipino tennis phenom Alex Eala—the first Filipino to reach the final four of a WTA 1000 event—defeated World No. 2 Iga Swiatek during the Miami Open on March 26 (March 27, Philippine time).
Eala, ranked No. 140, is advancing to the semis after defeating Swiatek of Poland, 6 to 2 and 7 to 5, in the quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old star is waiting for the winner between Britain's Emma Raducanu and America's Jessica Pegula.
“I don’t know what to say," Eala said in her on-court interview. "I mean, complete just disbelief right now and I am on cloud nine."
"It's forever in my heart," she added.
In an interview with Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN News, Eala said she's looking forward to facing either Raducanu or Pegula, but acknowledged that they're challenging opponents.
"I know that they're good," she said with a sigh. "I know that they're both fighters, both experienced. Either way, it's going to be difficult. Either way, a set of problems will be presented, and I have to step up. I have to deal with them. If it doesn't happen, then it doesn't happen."
"All I can say is I'm so excited and I am willing to die on the court tomorrow," she said with a laugh.
Reflecting on the second set of her match against Swiatek, Eala never discounted the possibility of losing.
"It could happen that I'm down, but it could also happen that I'll come back," she said. "Anything is possible. You never really know what to expect, so you just have to be flexible with what happens during the matches."
Eala also underscored the importance of having confidence on the court.
"Siyempre, sa isip ko, kaya ko 'yung bola niya," she said. "The court is not the place to belittle yourself. For me, it's all about the mindset."
Eala has been on fire in the tournament.
Last March 24, she defeated Australian Open champion, America's Madison Keys, making her the first Filipino to beat a Top 10 opponent since the ranking system came into being 50 years ago.
When Eala was 13, her talent was evident that her family made the difficult decision to send her to Spain to Rafael Nadal's academy in Mallorca.
Access to the academy's quality coaching and facilities has helped her grow into the 2022 US Open girls' singles champion and now a real contender on the WTA Tour.
But Eala knows that her road to the big stage began earlier than that move.
"The academy has been my home for the past seven years," she said. "Of course, my family should take credit for the foundation that they laid out before they sent me there."
"But of course, the academy was able to build on that foundation in such a way that I'm able to be where I am now. And I think the combination of everything that I've been through since I started tennis is what has led to this moment and what has led to me having all these opportunities," she added. (with reports from AFP)
