Alex Eala shocks Madison Keys at Miami Open
Filipina teenager Alex Eala upsets reigning Australian Open champion in straight sets.
In a stunning third-round match at the Miami Open, 19-year-old Alexandra Eala from the Philippines defeated reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-4, 6-2. This victory marks Eala’s first win over a top-10 player, making her the first Filipino to achieve this in the Open Era.
Born on May 23, 2005, in Quezon City, Philippines, Eala has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain since 2018. She stands at 5’9″ and plays left-handed. Eala’s notable achievements include winning the 2022 US Open girls’ singles title without dropping a set, becoming the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles title. She also clinched the Australian Open girls’ doubles title in 2020 and the French Open girls’ doubles title in 2021.
Before her remarkable run in Miami, Eala had been steadily climbing the ranks, achieving a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 134 on January 27, 2025. Her journey through the Miami Open has been impressive, with victories over former Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys. Eala’s next challenge will be against Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa in the Round of 16.
Eala’s success has garnered attention not only in the Philippines but also in the international tennis community, highlighting her potential to become a significant force in women’s tennis.
Inside the Baseline…
Eala’s victory over Keys was a statement. The poise, the shot selection, the refusal to back down against a reigning Grand Slam champion showed the kind of performance that announces a player’s arrival. There was a fearlessness in the way she stepped into returns, redirected pace, and dictated with angles, making a seasoned opponent look tentative. More than a breakthrough, this felt like the start of something bigger, the kind of win that shifts expectations from potential to inevitability.
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