Eala Stuns Ostapenko, Faces Keys Next

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines is set for the biggest match of her professional tennis career as she faces world No. 5 Madison Keys in the third round of the 2025 Miami Open at 1:30 a.m. Monday, Philippine time.

Eala, 19, earned her spot in the round of 32 after a straight-sets upset over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, 7-6 (2), 7-5, on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Ostapenko, ranked No. 25 in the world, won the 2017 French Open and was a strong favorite, but Eala held her ground with 58 service points to her opponent’s 41.

“Wow, such a special win yesterday,” Eala posted on Facebook after the match. “Truly grateful to have the opportunity to play against these great players and continue working hard.”

Her historic victory made her the first Filipino player to defeat a top-30 opponent on the Women’s Tennis Association tour.

Eala’s performance drew praise from 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who sent her a congratulatory message on X, formerly Twitter.

“Congratulations, Alex! What a great win for you and for the Philippines 🇵🇭,” Nadal wrote.

Eala trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain for six years until 2023 and continues to use the facility as her training base.

She also holds three junior Grand Slam titles: the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open girls’ doubles titles, and the 2022 US Open girls’ singles crown.

Currently ranked No. 140 in the WTA, Eala is the only Filipino athlete competing regularly on the global women’s professional tennis circuit.

Her next opponent, Madison Keys, is coming off her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open and is a formidable opponent with powerful groundstrokes and big-match experience.

Despite the daunting challenge, Eala is focused on maintaining her composure.

“Still processing the emotions of yesterday, but more importantly, getting ready for tomorrow,” she said.

Eala opened her Miami Open campaign with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over unseeded American Katie Volynets.

Her fellow Rafa Nadal Academy alumnus, Coleman Wong of Hong Kong, also advanced to the third round on the men’s side.

Eala’s progress at the prestigious WTA 1000 event could boost her ranking and bring increased visibility to Philippine tennis, where international success has historically been rare.

As of March, her estimated prize earnings from this tournament alone may exceed PHP 4.5 million, based on WTA payout scales for third-round appearances at premier events.