Alexandra Eala Stuns Madison Keys in Miami Open Upset

Post by: Bandan Preet

Photo: Instagram/@alex.eala

In a surprising turn of events at the Miami Open, 19-year-old Alexandra Eala from the Philippines defeated fifth-seeded Madison Keys in straight sets on Sunday. Eala, who entered the tournament as a wildcard, secured a 6-4, 6-2 victory, making history as the first woman from her country to beat a top-10 player since the WTA ranking system began in 1975.

The young Filipina was overwhelmed with emotion after her win. She ran over to hug her team and celebrated with pure joy. Eala, who won the 2022 US Open girls' singles title, has been training at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain since she was 13.

Speaking after her victory, Eala shared how challenging it was to pursue her tennis dream, especially coming from a country without a strong tennis background.

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"Growing up, it was tough," she said. "There wasn’t really anyone from where I’m from to pave the way. Of course, there were players around the world to look up to, but I hope this win takes Filipino tennis to the next level."

Eala will now face Spain's Paula Badosa in the next round, with a spot in the quarterfinals at stake.

Keys Struggles to Find Form

Madison Keys admitted that she was not at her best during the match. The American, who was recently thrashed by Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells semi-final, struggled with her serve and overall rhythm.

"My serve just wasn’t there today," Keys said. "I felt a little flat. When you’re playing someone who makes a lot of balls back and absorbs your power well, it’s hard to win."

Iga Swiatek Powers into Last 16

Meanwhile, world number one Iga Swiatek overcame a tough challenge from Belgium's Elise Mertens to advance to the last 16. The Polish star claimed a 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 win, marking her 25th consecutive appearance in the last 16 of a WTA 1000 event – a record streak that stretches back to Cincinnati 2021.

Swiatek had a strong start, leading 5-2 in the opening set, but Mertens fought back to make it 5-5. The match went into a tie-break, where Swiatek reasserted her dominance.

From there, the top seed was in full control, easily taking the second set.

"In the first set, my serve wasn’t working perfectly," Swiatek admitted. "But I stayed patient and kept fighting. By the second set, I felt much better."

Elina Svitolina Moves On

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina also advanced, defeating Czech player Karolina Muchova in a three-set battle. The 22nd-seeded Svitolina won 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to book her place in the fourth round.

Djokovic Breaks ATP Masters 1000 Record

In the men’s tournament, Novak Djokovic made history by claiming the most ATP Masters 1000 match wins. The Serbian star defeated Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), marking his 411th victory at this level. This record-breaking win took him past Rafael Nadal’s previous record of 410.

Goffin Falls, Korda Shines

Belgium’s David Goffin, who had shocked world number three Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round, was unable to maintain his momentum. He fell to American Brandon Nakashima, who won 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3.

Another American, Sebastian Korda, also delivered an impressive performance. The 24th seed defeated Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. This victory was extra special for Korda, as he was playing in his home state of Florida, with his family in the crowd.

"It’s awesome. I was born in Florida, so having my whole family here makes it even more special," Korda said. "I tried to serve well, come to the net when I could, and I’m really happy with how I played."

Dimitrov Hits Career Milestone

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov secured a hard-fought win against Karen Khachanov, coming through with a 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-5 victory. The match lasted two hours and 38 minutes, with both players battling fiercely from the baseline.

With this win, the 33-year-old Dimitrov became only the fourth active player to reach 100 ATP Masters 1000 wins on hard courts.

"It feels great. Last year, I hit 100 wins indoors, and now I’ve done it on hard courts too," Dimitrov said. "Every time you hit a milestone like this, it’s something special."

The Miami Open continues with more exciting matchups and potential upsets as players fight for the prestigious title.

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