1 month ago
14
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
MANILA, Philippines — Just past midnight in Miami, the tennis world bore witness to a battle of heart, grit and unrelenting spirit as 19-year-old Alex Eala stood toe-to-toe with World No. 4 Jessica Pegula in a Miami Open semifinal for the ages.
Though the fearless Filipina ultimately fell short in a heart-stopping 6-7(3), 7-5, 3-6 setback, she left an indelible mark on the tournament, proving she is not just a rising star — but a force to be reckoned with.
Beyond securing a new world ranking of No. 75 — and making history as the first Filipina to break into the Top 100 — Eala left the tournament with invaluable lessons, newfound inspiration and a substantial $332,160 prize purse (approximately P19 million) for reaching the Final Four.
Had she advanced further, she would have guaranteed herself $597,890, while the champion will take home $1,124,380.
Yet, beyond the financial rewards, Eala will undoubtedly cherish her Cinderella-like journey — one that saw her defeat three former Grand Slam champions and send shockwaves through the women’s tennis world with her resilience, passion, faith, and unwavering self-belief in the face of daunting odds.
Blocking out the noise, she emerged from the Hard Rock Stadium, her ears covered with headgear — perhaps shielding herself from the sparse but passionate crowd cheering for the newest WTA sensation.
Following the customary handshake with Pegula and the routine warm-up exchanges, Eala stepped up to serve first. With a swift and confident motion, the Filipina lefty not only delivered the opening shot but also made her intentions crystal clear.
She unleashed an aggressive, high-risk game, setting the tone with blistering baseline shots and pinpoint placement. She stormed to a 5-2 lead in the first set, dazzling the crowd with three aces and a series of gutsy winners.
Serving for the set at 5-3, she had Pegula on the ropes. But nerves crept in, and two untimely double faults cracked the door open for the veteran American, who clawed her way into a tie-break.
Yet, even under the weight of the moment, Eala refused to fold. She traded blows with Pegula in a tense exchange before the American seized control, capitalizing on a string of unforced errors to steal the set.
Setbacks, however, have never deterred Eala. In the second frame, she absorbed Pegula’s counterpunching and struck back with fearless shot-making, breaking the American twice to wrestle control at 4-3.
Even a scary moment — twisting her left ankle while lunging for a return — couldn’t shake her focus. After a medical timeout, she returned with her signature fire, battling through Pegula’s resistance to clinch the set and force a decider.
With the match hanging in the balance, Eala continued to press forward, her aggressive style daring Pegula to match her intensity. She stood tall against her foe’s experience, forcing a deuce in a gladiatorial third set.
But as fatigue set in, Pegula pounced, breaking at 4-3 on a couple of Eala mishits. The gutsy Filipina fought off one match point with a fearless forehand, but a final forehand return into the net sent Pegula into the championship match and left Eala with the admiration of an awestruck Miami crowd.
Despite the loss, Eala’s Cinderella run to the semis was nothing short of spectacular.
She stunned the tennis world with back-to-back wins over reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, proving she belongs among the elite.
More than rankings and prize money, this tournament cemented her as a fearless competitor — one who thrives under pressure, plays with unshakable confidence and embraces the biggest moments.
As she walked off the court, her head held high, one thing was clear — Eala has arrived and she’s here to stay. The future looks bright, and this is only the beginning of her inevitable rise to the world stage.
