28-3-2025 (MANILA) Filipino prodigy Alex Eala’s extraordinary journey at the Miami Open concluded in a gripping semifinal encounter against American powerhouse Jessica Pegula.
The Hard Rock Stadium bore witness to an enthralling three-set battle, with world No. 4 Pegula ultimately prevailing 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3 in a match that showcased both players’ remarkable resilience and skill.
Whilst the result marked the end of Eala’s spectacular campaign, her achievement stands as a watershed moment in Philippine tennis history. Never before had a Filipino athlete reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 tournament, a prestigious tier of competition that ranks just beneath the Grand Slams.
The young Filipino’s path to the semifinals had been nothing short of extraordinary, having dispatched world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and fifth-ranked Madison Keys in succession. However, her bid to complete a remarkable hat-trick of top-five scalps was thwarted by crucial unforced errors at pivotal moments against Pegula.
