Alex Eala, the 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation, is making waves at the Miami Open with a jaw-dropping upset over reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys. In a stunning performance on Sunday (Monday in Manila), Eala triumphed in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, to secure a spot in the Round of 16.
If statistics were the sole measure, Keys would have beaten Eala soundly. The Filipina teenager is ranked a staggering 130 places lower than the world number 5, and she has 95 fewer career wins than Keys.
Yet Eala seemed undaunted by these numbers. The 5-foot-9 left-hander stormed to an early lead, claiming 8 of the first 9 points and 4 of the first 6 games to seize the opening set.
Staying composed, Eala patiently waited at the baseline, letting Keys’ errors mount. The strategy was a masterstroke. Keys finished the match with 51 unforced errors and only 22 winners, while Eala minimized her mistakes, with just 21 unforced errors and 13 winners. Eala also broke Keys’ serve six times, showcasing her dominance.
As the final point landed, Eala broke down in tears, running toward the stands to embrace her team in an emotional celebration.
Reflecting on her victory, Eala admitted to reporters that she was still processing the magnitude of the win, which came just a day after her triumph over world number 26, Jelena Ostapenko. Her next challenge will come in the form of Spain’s Paula Badosa, currently ranked 10th in the world, who turned professional in 2015.
Eala, a graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy turned pro in March 2020, broke into the WTA Top 1,000 in January 2021. Like many professional tennis players, her ultimate goal is to make her mark on the WTA Tour and, one day, capture at least one Grand Slam title. The Grand Slam events include the US Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, and French Open.
With this win, Eala becomes the fourth wild card to defeat a Top 5 player at the Miami Open, proving she’s a rising star to watch.
