Filipina tennis ace ‘Alex’ Eala. (Photo from Rappler)
By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA — Returning to the Miami Open, where she first captured international attention with wins over three top-ranked players, Filipina rising star Alexandra “Alex” Eala aims to replicate last year’s remarkable run as she faces Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the round of 64.
After sliding to world No. 49, Eala will face a tough challenge against Siegemund, currently ranked No. 53 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles standings. This will be their first meeting in a WTA 1000-level event. The German veteran advanced by defeating Croatia’s Petra Marcinko, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round. Siegemund, who has reached a career-high ranking of 27 and captured two WTA singles titles, also made it to last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinals, where she fell to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Should Eala overcome Siegemund, she could potentially face Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, who is set to play fellow Pole Magda Linette. Linette opened her campaign with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Varvara Gracheva.
Last year, Eala—then ranked No. 140 and entering as a qualifier—shocked Swiatek in the Miami Open quarterfinals, becoming the first WTA wildcard to defeat three Grand Slam champions in a single event. Her impressive run ended in the semifinals against Jessica Pegula. Meanwhile, in last year’s Madrid Open round of 64, Swiatek defeated Eala in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
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