Alexandra Eala of Philippines celebrates her win in opposition to Madison Keys throughout Day 6 of the Miami Open at Exhausting Rock Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. | Al Bello/Getty Photographs/AFP
MIAMI GARDENS, United States — Fifth-seeded American Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion, crashed out of the Miami Open on Sunday struggling a shock loss to 19-year-old Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala.
The 6-4, 6-2 win for {the teenager} prompted her to hug her staff and rejoice passionately after she turned the primary Filipino girl within the Open Period to beat a top-10 opponent because the rating system got here into being in 1975.
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Eala, the 2022 U.S. Open ladies’ singles champion, who has been based mostly to the Rafael Nadal academy in Mallorca since she was 13, will now tackle Spain’s Paula Badosa for a spot within the quarterfinals.
“Rising up it was powerful. … You didn’t have anybody from the place you’re from to pave the way in which. After all you had many individuals to look as much as around the globe, however I feel — I hope this takes Filipino tennis to the subsequent step,” Eala stated in her on-court interview.
Madison Keys of america returns a shot in opposition to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines throughout their match on day 6 at Exhausting Rock Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. | Wealthy Storry/Getty Photographs/AFP
Keys, who was badly overwhelmed by Aryna Sabalenka within the Indian Wells semi-finals, conceded she was effectively in need of her finest type.
“My serve was probably not there immediately and I simply form of felt somewhat flat — and if you find yourself taking part in somebody who makes a ton of balls again and absorbs very well, that’s probably not the keys to success,” stated the American.
Iga Swiatek overcame a decided Elise Mertens to safe a 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 victory and take her place within the final 16 at a WTA 1000 event for a document twenty fifth straight occasion.
Second-seeded Swiatek has not misplaced earlier than the final 16 at this degree since Cincinnati 2021.
The Pole was 5-2 up within the first set however Mertens fought again to make it 5-5 earlier than Swiatek was in a position to regain her dominance within the tie-break.
Persistence pays off
Swiatek didn’t look again from that time on as she made brief work of the second set and she or he acknowledged she had struggled on her serve. Her first service proportion went from 60% to 79% within the second set.
“Within the first set, my serve wasn’t working completely. I’m glad I used to be affected person sufficient to simply work for it, and within the second set I felt significantly better,” Swiatek stated.
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the twenty second seed, overcame Fifteenth-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova to maneuver into the fourth spherical with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win.
Within the males’s draw, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who gained his first title in over a 12 months final month at Dubai, fell to Twenty fourth-seeded American Sebastian Korda 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
“It’s superior. I used to be born in Florida. My entire household is right here. It’s simply lots of enjoyable to play right here and get my first High 10 win of the 12 months,” stated Korda.
“I attempted to serve effectively, tried to come back to the web after I might, and I’m simply proud of my efficiency immediately,” he stated.
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov battled to a 6-7 (7/3), 6-4, 7-5 win over Karen Khachanov in a contest through which the baseline predictably dominated.
The 33-year-old’s victory, secured over two hours and 38 minutes, made Dimitrov the fourth lively participant to tally 100 Masters 1000 hard-court wins.
“It’s nice. Final 12 months I feel I hit 100 wins indoors, now this. It’s lovely I feel each time you hit such a milestone,” stated Dimitrov.
“We all know one another very effectively, we apply with one another rather a lot, so there weren’t actually secrets and techniques. On the finish of the day, it got here down to some factors.”
In a while Sunday, fourth seed Novak Djokovic is in motion in opposition to Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
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