In a monumental upset, 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala defeated second-seeded Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Open.
Eala, ranked 140th in the world, produced a fearless and ferocious performance, breaking Swiatek’s serve eight times and capitalizing on the Pole’s shaky baseline game. The teenager’s victory marks the biggest win of her career and propels her into the world’s top 100 for the first time.
Swiatek, who has been open about the emotional toll of a recent doping ban, struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match. Her defeat means she has not reached a final since winning the French Open in June.
Eala, a graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy, has been making waves in the tennis world with her impressive run in Miami. She has already beaten three major champions, including 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and Australian Open winner Madison Keys.
“I’m still the same player I was two weeks ago,” Eala said in a post-match interview. “My mind is really blank, I don’t think I’ve processed what I’ve just done.”
Eala will face either Britain’s Emma Raducanu or American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. Her remarkable victory has sent shockwaves through the tennis world, and she is sure to be a player to watch in the future.
In other news, top-seeded Alexander Zverev was knocked out of the men’s singles by France’s Arthur Fils, while British pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool reached the men’s doubles semi-finals.
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