By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala’s Cinderella run at the 2025 Miami Open ended in a semifinal performance worth recalling many times as she yielded to world No. 4 Jessica Pegula, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, before a multitude of animated fans on the wee hours of Friday, March 28, at the Stadium in Florida.
The 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation, who took the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA1000) tournament by storm after slaying one Grand Slam champion after another, put up a gallant stand with her huge and whistling shots before falling to a more experienced opponent.
A victory for Eala could have set her up a dream championship duel against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who earlier swept Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-2.
Despite the loss, Eala earned thunderous applause from the crowd as she soaked in a revelatory week that saw her first beating world No. 75 Katie Volynets, 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and reigning Australian Open titlist Madison Keys. She got a walkover win at the Round of 16 over Paula Badosa following the latter’s back injury before pulling off a tough quarterfinals triumph over five-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
More than the fame she earned, Eala is now richer by $332,160 (around P19.1 million) for reaching the semis.
Still, Eala didn’t hand the victory to Pegula on a silver platter as the 31-year-old American had to dig deep to survive her resilient plays. In fact, Pegula needed two hours and 26 minutes to claim that hard-fought win.
“I was so, so tired,” Pegula said during the post-match interview.
“I mean, she’s really good. Really good tennis player. Goes for her shots, takes the ball early… Being a lefty is always tricky, competes really well,” she added.
Eala, who entered the tournament as a wildcard with a world ranking of No. 140, almost claimed the opening set after leading and serving at 5-3, but back-to-back double faults proved costly as it gave Pegula the ninth game.
The American immediately took that advantage despite Eala’s persistence, particularly during the tiebreak where she recovered from a 3-2 deficit by snaring the next five points for the set win.
Eala tried to regain her composure entering the second set, and a stumble from an attempted forehand return had her calling for a medical timeout moments after while trailing 2-1. Pegula broke Eala’s serve in the fourth game, but it did not deter Eala’s resolve as the Filipina fought back by winning the three games for 4-3 before eventually forging the match into a decider.
But it was in the third set where Pegula’s experience mattered the most. With both players visibly exhausted and holding on to their serves, the American kept her composure against Eala’s more aggressive attacks before finally making a move in the eighth game, where she finally broke the Filipina’s serve.
Eala refused to give up the fight, though, and hung tough to keep her bid alive, but forehand errors gave Pegula the needed momentum. Another Eala miscue pushed Pegula to the finish line and into the finals.
Though the loss sent her crashing back to earth, Eala is expected to remain in the Top 100 with her live ranking at No. 75.
