MIAMI — The Miami Open was thrilled to welcome back tennis legends Serena Williams and Juan Martin del Potro on Tuesday night. Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was excited to take photos with them.

The excitement continued on Wednesday when Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal`s uncle and former coach, appeared in the stands to support Alexandra Eala, a wild card player from his academy. The coach who guided Rafael Nadal to 14 French Open titles was there to cheer on another left-handed player from the Rafa Nadal Academy.

19-year-old Alexandra Eala from the Philippines continued her unexpected journey through the tournament, achieving a remarkable 6-2, 7-5 victory against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. She has reached the semifinals and will face No. 4 Jessica Pegula for the first time on Thursday.

Eala mentioned that she believed in her ability to compete with Swiatek from the start, acknowledging Swiatek`s impressive achievements and status as a player she admires.

Eala`s semifinal appearance equals the best result for a wild card entrant at the Miami Open since it began in 1985, joining Justine Henin (2010) and Victoria Azarenka (2018).

The other semifinal match will feature world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against Jasmine Paolini. Both Sabalenka and Paolini secured straight-set victories in their quarterfinal matches against Zheng Qinwen and Magda Linette, respectively.

Let`s examine the prospects for each player in these upcoming matches:

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jasmine Paolini (Thursday, 3 p.m.)

Sabalenka`s Strengths: In her quarterfinal against Zheng, Sabalenka faced a critical moment while serving at 3-4 in the second set, finding herself down 0-40. Despite struggling with her serve and being broken in the previous three service games, she managed to turn things around. Sabalenka won five consecutive points to level the score at 4-4, then held serve easily and broke Zheng`s serve to take the set. She ultimately won 13 straight points on her serve to close out the match.

Sabalenka expressed satisfaction with her emotional control and determination to fight for every point, even when her serve wasn`t at its best. This victory marked her sixth win in six matches against Zheng. Notably, she also defeated Danielle Collins in straight sets in the previous round. Sabalenka has a strong head-to-head record against Paolini, winning three out of four matches at the WTA level. In their two most recent encounters at the 2024 WTA Finals and 2023 Beijing, Paolini failed to win a set.

Sabalenka`s consistency is highlighted by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami Open in the same year as world No. 1, joining a select group of players including Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, and Serena Williams. She has won 10 of her last 12 matches against Top 10 opponents.

Based in Miami, Sabalenka appears refreshed and is aiming to overcome the disappointment of losing the Indian Wells final to Mirra Andreeva. Reaching her first Miami semifinal, she seems determined to win this tournament.

Paolini`s Strengths: Jasmine Paolini is displaying the impressive form that gained her recognition last year.

Her defensive skills are exceptional, and she is known for her speed and agility on the court, even at 29 years old. This athleticism was key to her three-set victory against Naomi Osaka in the third round.

Osaka admitted being surprised by Paolini`s speed and ability to return balls effectively despite her smaller stature (5-foot-4). Paolini continued this form in her quarterfinal, defeating Magda Linette in straight sets.

Paolini entered the tournament with a decent 8-5 record but was seeking a breakthrough result. She mentioned regaining confidence and feeling ready for strong performances. This Miami semifinal marks Paolini`s first WTA semifinal of 2025 and her first time winning four consecutive WTA matches since reaching the Wimbledon final last year.

Interestingly, Sabalenka and Paolini`s first match was eight years ago at an ITF event in Ilkley, England, just before Wimbledon. Paolini, ranked slightly lower than Sabalenka at the time, won in a close three-set match. Paolini will be motivated to recreate that victory.

Jessica Pegula vs. Alexandra Eala (Thursday, 8:30 p.m.)

Pegula`s Strengths: While Eala`s inexperience at the top level hasn`t hindered her so far, Pegula presents a different challenge. Players like Ostapenko, Keys, and Swiatek experienced dips in their performance against the rising teenager. Pegula, while still seeking a Grand Slam singles title, is known for her consistency and ability to win matches she is expected to win.

Pegula`s consistency was evident in her victory over Emma Raducanu. Pegula`s ability to win long rallies demonstrates her mental and physical endurance. The 31-year-old Pegula outlasted Raducanu in three sets, showcasing her reliable game. This is why a similar outcome is likely on Thursday.

Pegula emphasized her focus on starting the third set strongly and quickly to gain an advantage. Pegula is only the second American since 2009 to reach the Miami Open quarterfinals in four consecutive years, following Serena Williams. Her hard-court prowess is undeniable.

Despite a late-night finish in her match against Raducanu, Pegula has sufficient time to recover for her Thursday evening semifinal. Pegula is aiming for her first Miami final in her third semifinal appearance and is determined to seize the opportunity.

Eala`s Strengths: Eala demonstrated her aggressive approach by positioning herself close to the baseline to receive Swiatek`s serves, especially on second serves. She broke Swiatek`s serve five times in a row at the beginning of the match and converted 8 out of 10 break points overall. Swiatek, who typically has a high service points won percentage, struggled against Eala, winning only 39 percent of her service points.

While Eala`s serves are not overpowering, her flat forehand effectively reduces her opponent`s time and can rush even top players like Swiatek. Eala`s earlier wins brought tears, but after defeating Swiatek, she appeared stunned and overwhelmed by her achievement.

Eala expressed being so focused on each moment during the match that it was difficult to fully grasp the victory immediately. She is trying to absorb the experience, as this level of success is new to her. Eala has not dropped a set in the tournament so far, although she received a walkover in the previous round due to Paula Badosa`s injury.

Eala`s long-term goals include winning Grand Slams and reaching the world No. 1 ranking. She believes this result is timely and emphasizes that junior success doesn`t guarantee professional success. Eala highlights her commitment to hard work and trusting that her time to shine would come, suggesting that this Miami Open might be that moment.