Alexandra Eala’s Miami Open campaign started in dramatic fashion, as she came back from one set down to defeat Laura Siegemund.
Siegemund is always a tricky customer, and Eala even complained about the German’s slow pace in between serves.
Despite the controversy, the Filipina star found a way to get the win and earn her place in the third round of the competition.
Eala is defending semi-final points from her breakout performance last season, but she has admitted to not feeling the pressure to succeed in Miami.
Alex Eala says her recent form makes her confident for success in Miami
Eala has performed terrifically throughout 2026, which has helped her reach a career ranking high of World No. 29.
She has lost the 325 points she won at last year’s event, however, and that has caused a slight tumble to world number 48.
Despite the potential ranking slip, Eala is not feeling the pressure to match last year’s performance in Miami.
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Speaking to the WTA Tour, she said: “Opinions or expectations can change. That is not in your control. What I know are facts and truths, and the truth is that I’ve been working really hard.
“And I know I’ve been taking the right steps and approaching it in the right way in terms of what I need to do on court. So that gives me more calm.
“And fortunately, I’ve been doing well between last year’s Miami and this year’s Miami, so I’m in a position where this tournament is not all or nothing. You know what I mean?
“Not everything’s on the line. But in regard to how I approach expectations and external noise, it’s that I know my truth.”
Eala will next play Magda Linette in the third round, after the Pole knocked out Iga Swiatek in one of the stories of the tournament so far.
Alexandra Eala’s incredible run to the 2025 Miami Open semi-final
It’s a testament to Eala’s abilities that she was able to continue to climb the rankings after her breakout performance in Miami last year.
The star has slowly but surely become a stalwart on the WTA Tour, but it was at the Masters event where she made her name.
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Eala entered the event after receiving a wild card and picked up shock victories against Katie Volynets, Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek to reach the final four.
Her time in the tournament was eventually ended at the hands of Jessica Pegula, after a terrific three set battle.
And it is not out of the question that Eala could produce similar results this year, particularly with Swiatek’s early exit.
The highest seed left for Eala to play before the quarter-finals will now be Karolina Muchova, who the Filipina star could play in the fourth round.
