Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot in opposition to Madison Keys of america throughout their match on day 6 at Exhausting 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 workforce.
Eala, the 2022 US Open women’ singles champion who has been primarily based 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 mentioned. “You didn’t have anybody from the place you’re from to pave the way in which. After all you had many individuals to look as much as around the globe, however I feel — I hope this takes Filipino tennis to the subsequent step,” Eala mentioned in her on-court interview.
Keys, who was badly overwhelmed by Aryna Sabalenka within the Indian Wells semi-finals, conceded she was nicely wanting her finest kind.
“My serve was probably not there at this time and I simply sort of felt slightly flat — and when you’re taking part in somebody who makes a ton of balls again and absorbs very well, that’s probably not the keys to success,” mentioned 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 match for a file 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 brief 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 simply work for it, and within the second set I felt significantly better,” Swiatek mentioned.
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 file for essentially the most ATP Masters 1000 match wins along 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 file set by Nadal.
Belgian veteran David Goffin, who eradicated world quantity three Carlos Alcaraz within the earlier spherical, fell to American Brandon Nakashima, who gained 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 6-3.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who gained 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 entire household is right here. It’s simply lots of enjoyable to play right here and get my first Prime 10 win of the 12 months,” mentioned Korda.
“I attempted to serve nicely, tried to come back to the online after I might, and I’m simply proud of my efficiency at this time,” he mentioned.
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 lively 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 stunning I feel each time you hit such a milestone,” mentioned Dimitrov.
“We all know one another very nicely, we apply with one another loads, so there weren’t actually secrets and techniques. On the finish of the day, it got here down to a couple factors.”
