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John Bryan Ulanday - The Philippine Star
March 26, 2025 | 12:00am
Alex Eala and Iga Swiatek
STAR / File
Eala faces Swiatek in q’finals
MANILA, Philippines — And now, an idol turns into a rival for the Filipina tennis sensation.
Like destiny written in the stars, giant-killing wildcard entry Alex Eala takes on her inspiration and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland today (7 a.m. Manila time).
It’s the biggest match in Eala’s career, and another shot at history as they clash in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open at the Hardrock Stadium in Florida.
Eala, WTA No. 140, gained a passage into the Last 8 yesterday via walkover after Spain’s Paula Badosa, world No. 11, withdrew due to a lower back injury.
It paved the way for a collision against Swiatek, who dispatched world No. 22 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 7-6 (5), 6-3, in the Round of 16.
“Not the way I would want to move on to my first WTA1000 QF. I wish Paula a speedy recovery,” Eala wrote on Instagram.
“I didn’t expect to be in the quarterfinals,” added Eala, now guaranteed her biggest purse ever of $189,075 (about P10.8 million) for reaching the Last 8.
The Pinay teen pride is coming off two straight monumental feats against top-ranked players and former Grand Slam champions as well.
Swiatek, winner of five Grand Slams and the No. 1 player for 125 weeks before sliding to second, will serve as Eala’s greatest and toughest opponent in her budding career just yet.
A wildcard ace versus a tennis heavyweight is the name of the game for a seat in the Final Four.
“The atmosphere the past few days have been completely amazing. It’s crazy to think that I made my main draw debut here in 2021 and now I’m into the quarterfinals,” said Eala.
“It’s such a full circle moment, and I hope you guys can all support and come along on the journey.”
It’s the first head-to-head duel for Eala and Swiatek albeit they had crossed paths off the court in the past.
Eala trained with Swiatek, 23, before her Miami Open debut in 2021 and met again in 2023 when Eala graduated at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain that also produced the Polish superstar.
Swiatek then served as the keynote speaker in the ceremony attended by Nadal himself.
And Eala is undeterred, having a massive momentum to ride on after slaying world No. 5 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys of the United States, 6-4, 6-2, in the Round of 32.
She also blasted world No. 25 and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 7-6(2), 7-5, in the Round of 64, to become the first Filipina player ever to beat a Top-25 and Top-5 player. Before that, she scored a big win over world No. 73 Katie Volynets of the United States, 6-3, 7-6(3), in the Round of 128.
Overall, Eala has yet to drop a single set in a stellar Cinderella run and she wants more – even if it means taking care of her idol-now-turned rival.
