Young tennis talents Alexandra Eala and Victoria Mboko, both competing as wild cards, delivered remarkable performances in the Miami Open second round against seeded players. Eala, 19, achieved a career-high victory by defeating No. 25 seed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets, 7-6(2), 7-5. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Mboko nearly joined her in victory but was narrowly defeated by No. 10 seed Paula Badosa in a close three-set match: 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(3).

Eala’s early career promise has been evident for years. Hailing from the Philippines, a nation without a strong professional tennis history, she gained prominence by winning the Les Petits As tournament in 2018 for players under 14. In 2021, she became the first Filipina to win a WTA main draw match in Cluj-Napoca. Adding to her achievements, Eala won the US Open junior title in 2022 and was featured on the cover of Vogue Philippines that same year.

Eala’s consistent progress has elevated her to No. 140 in the WTA rankings. Her win against Ostapenko is a significant milestone, marking her first victory against a Top 30 player and the first time she has won consecutive matches on the WTA tour. Eala demonstrated resilience in both sets to secure the win.

While Ostapenko is known for unpredictable match momentum, in this match, Eala managed the flow of the game more effectively. Despite initially falling behind 4-0 in the first set, Eala rallied to win it. She then took a 4-0 lead in the second set, showcasing her strong return game when Ostapenko’s accuracy faltered.

Despite Ostapenko’s reputation for comebacks, Eala held firm. Ostapenko surged back to win five games in a row and had a set point at 5-4. However, Eala defended it successfully and then claimed the next three games to win the match.

Badosa survives teenage wild card Mboko in three-set Miami thriller

Mboko entered her match against Badosa with an impressive 28-1 record for 2025. The Canadian player, a former top junior, has already secured five ITF titles and significantly improved her ranking from No. 333 to No. 162 in just three months. She also earned her first WTA tour-level victory against Camila Osorio in the first round. Facing Badosa, however, was a step up in competition, marking her first match against a Top 50 opponent.

Mboko pushed Badosa to her limit in a match lasting 2 hours and 19 minutes, particularly in the third set where she recovered from a 5-2 deficit to tie the score at 5-5. Mboko showcased powerful backhands and skillful volleys throughout the match, and in the deciding set, she displayed great determination. Badosa, known for her own fighting spirit, had to play exceptionally well, including hitting impressive backhand passing shots, to win the final tiebreak.