By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense tennis star Alexandra Eala returns to the Miami Open with a higher ranking and greater expectations after her breakthrough performance in last year’s tournament.
The Negros Occidental’s Victorias City native Eala is no longer an unheralded entrant, having established herself on the WTA Tour following a semifinal finish in 2025.
That campaign included a stunning victory over then World’s No. 2 Iga Świątek before she bowed out in a tightly contested match against Jessica Pegula.
Eala’s success in Miami sparked a strong season, highlighted by appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open.
In New York, she made history as the first Filipina in the Open era to win a main-draw match in a Grand Slam. She also captured a WTA 125 title in Guadalajara and won a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games.
Now ranked among the Top 30 players in the world, Eala enters the Miami Open as the 31st seed and receives a first-round bye. She will face Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the second round this morning.
Despite the added pressure, the 20-year-old remains focused on her approach and performance on the court.
“They can definitely expect my fighting spirit. They can expect me [to give] my best,” Eala said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
Eala comes into the tournament following a solid showing at Indian Wells, where she reached the fourth round. She acknowledged the difference in her situation compared to last year but remains satisfied with her progress.
“No matter what happens this week … I think I’ll be happy. I’ve been doing really well this past year, and I’m fortunate enough to come into this Miami [Open] in a different circumstance than last year,” she said.
A potential rematch with Świątek looms if both players advance in their respective brackets, but Eala stressed that her focus is not solely on replicating last year’s results.
“Maybe it will happen again, maybe it won’t. The whole tour is not dependent on one tournament. This started it all for me, and I’d love, love, love to do it again [but] we never know,” Eala said.
“But either way, I’m happy to be here and happy to compete and be healthy,” she added./ASC, WDJ