Alex Eala turns emotional after gorgeous 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko to advance to the Miami Open Spherical of 32.–Photograph from the Tennis Channel
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala earned her largest profession win to this point.
Eala, the Girls’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA) No. 140, shocked World No. 25 Jeļena Ostapenko of Latvia, 7-6 (2), 7-5, on Saturday (Manila time) to advance to the 2024 Miami Open’s Spherical of 32.
The 19-year-old Filipino didn’t again down going through the 2017 French Open champion—the highest-ranked participant she confronted within the professionals— as she displayed grace underneath stress within the first-set extension to attract first blood.
READ: Alex Eala scores upset in Miami Open principal draw debut
what a win! 🇵🇭
Alexandra Eala defeats Ostapenko 7-6(2), 7-5!
#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/IGMbkm9mYP
— wta (@WTA) March 21, 2025
The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate carried her momentum within the second, finishing the upset in a single hour and 53 minutes.
Even Eala couldn’t imagine what had simply transpired as she turned emotional after profitable the match following a miscue by Ostapenko.
The Philippines’ Alex Eala is congratulated by Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko following their Miami Open match.–Photograph from the Tennis Channel
Eala burst into tears, shaking the hand of the previous top-five participant, and continued to be emotional as she sat down on the bench.
Rafa Nadal, a former World No.1 and 22-time Grand Slam champion, celebrated Eala’s largest win but after being the primary Filipino netter to defeat a high 30 participant.
READ: Alex Eala reaches one other career-high in WTA rankings
“Congratulations Alex! What a fantastic win for you and for [the Philippines]! ” Nadal tweeted on X with a clap emoji.
The previous US Open ladies champion kicked off her Miami Open principal draw debut with a 6-3, 7-6(3) upset of World No. 73 Katie Volynets of the USA final Thursday (Manila time).
Eala hopes to proceed her spectacular run as she battles WTA No. 5 Madison Keys within the Spherical of 32.
Keys took down Elina Avanesyan of Armenia, 6-3, 6-3, to advance.
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