Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot in opposition to Madison Keys of america throughout their match on day 6 at Laborious Rock Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Agence France-Presse
MIAMI GARDENS, United States — Filipina teen Alexandra Eala surprised fifth seed Madison Keys within the Miami Open on Sunday, securing a historic 6-4, 6-2 victory.
The 19-year-old wildcard grew to become the primary Filipina to defeat a top-10 opponent because the WTA rankings started in 1975, celebrating the milestone with an emotional embrace along with her crew.
Eala, the 2022 US Open women’ 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.
READ: Alex Eala stuns No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko to advance at Miami Open
“Rising up it was powerful,” she stated. “You didn’t have anybody from the place you’re from to pave the best way. In fact you had many individuals to look as much as around the globe, however I feel — I hope this takes Filipino tennis to the following step,” Eala stated in her on-court interview.
Keys, who was badly overwhelmed by Aryna Sabalenka within the Indian Wells semi-finals, conceded she was effectively wanting her finest kind.
“My serve was probably not there as we speak and I simply type of felt a bit flat — and if you find yourself enjoying 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.
READ: Alex Eala gears up for Madison Keys after ‘particular win’ at Miami Open
Second-seeded Swiatek has not misplaced earlier than the final 16 at this stage 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 capable of regain her dominance within the tie-break.
Persistence pays off
Swiatek didn’t look again from that time on, making quick work of the second set as her struggles on serve improved.
“Within the first set, my serve wasn’t working completely. I’m glad I used to be affected person sufficient to only work for it, and within the second set I felt a lot 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, Novak Djokovic broke the document for probably the most ATP Masters 1000 match wins together with his 6-1 7-6 (7/1) win over Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
The Serb’s 411th win at this stage takes him previous the earlier document set by Nadal.
Belgian veteran David Goffin, who eradicated world quantity three Carlos Alcaraz within the earlier spherical, fell to American Brandon Nakashima, who received 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 6-3.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who received 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 complete household is right here. It’s simply plenty 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 as we speak,” he stated.
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov battled to a 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-5 win over Karen Khachanov in a contest during which the baseline predictably dominated.
The 33-year-old’s victory, secured over two hours and 38 minutes, made Dimitrov the fourth energetic 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.
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“We all know one another very effectively, we follow with one another quite a bit, so there weren’t actually secrets and techniques. On the finish of the day, it got here down to a couple factors.”