Miami – In a stunning upset at the Miami Open, young Alexandra Eala from the Philippines overcame Madison Keys in their third-round match on Sunday. Despite Keys`s significant advantage in experience and ranking, the 19-year-old Eala, a wild card entry, demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill.
While Keys, a recent Australian Open winner and leading the tour in victories this year, was expected to dominate, Eala quickly established her presence. She started strong, winning the majority of the initial points and the first set, signaling an unexpected challenge for Keys.
Eala`s strategy involved consistent baseline play and capitalizing on Keys`s errors. In a match where Keys aimed for her 20th win of the season, Eala remained composed, extending rallies and waiting for opportunities.
The match concluded with a 6-4, 6-2 victory for Eala, propelling her into the Round of 16 at the Miami Open. Overwhelmed with emotion, Eala celebrated her achievement with her team.
This win marks a historic moment as Eala becomes the first Filipino player in the Open Era to defeat a Top 10 WTA player since 1975. Furthermore, she is the lowest-ranked player to reach the Round of 16 at a WTA 1000 event this season.
Eala`s three main-draw wins in this tournament surpass the combined main-draw wins of all other Filipino players in the Open Era before this Miami Open, highlighting the magnitude of her accomplishment.
Despite requiring medical attention during the match, Eala maintained her focus and pressure on Keys.
A crucial moment occurred when Keys double-faulted on a break point, giving Eala a significant advantage in the second set.
Ultimately, Keys`s 51 unforced errors compared to her 22 winners, contrasted with Eala`s more controlled 13 winners and 21 unforced errors, told the story of the match. Eala effectively broke Keys`s serve six times.
This loss is a setback for Keys, who had a strong 19-2 record this year before reaching the semifinals at Indian Wells. After this and a previous loss, her recent record is now two losses in three matches.
Eala`s journey includes participation in the WTA Future Stars events in Singapore and her WTA Tour debut at the 2021 Miami Open qualifiers. She hones her skills at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain.
Looking ahead, Eala is set to compete against Paula Badosa for a quarterfinal spot on Monday.
Rupert Caldwell