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Reuters

Philippine wild card Alexandra Eala pulled off the biggest win of her young career with a stunning 6-2, 7-5 upset of Polish world No 2 Iga Swiatek to extend her dream run at the Miami Open into the semi-finals.
The big-hitting 19-year-old showed no signs of intimidation playing against one of her idols on Wednesday and was instead a picture of poise as she dismantled Swiatek’s serve early on to grab control of the match and never looked back.
Eala had already become the first Philippine woman to reach the last eight of a WTA 1000 tournament. She will now face a semi-final against American fourth seed Jessica Pegula, who beat 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu in their quarter-final.
“I don’t know what to say, I mean, complete just disbelief right now and I am on cloud nine,” said Eala, ranked 140th in the world, in her on-court interview. “It’s forever in my heart.


“There are a lot of emotions, definitely,’’ said Eala, who had never beaten a top 40 player. “Happiness has to be on the top of the whole list.’’
Swiatek, who was playing the match with added security after being verbally abused by a spectator at the weekend, failed to hold serve throughout the first set, while Eala was swinging freely as she unleashed winners from all over the court.
Five-time grand slam champion Swiatek hit a staggering 19 unforced errors in the opening set and then received some advice from her coach before briefly leaving the court.
In the second set Eala managed to overturn a 4-2 deficit and then held her nerve while Swiatek tried to serve out the set at 5-4 before ultimately closing it out with her eighth break of the match.
For Eala, the victory over Swiatek marked the third grand slam winner she had knocked out of the women’s draw after earlier wins over Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

In a later match, Pegula put an end to Raducanu’s impressive run to the quarter-finals to make it to the last four.
The American survived a mid-match surge from Raducanu en route to a tough 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 victory.
Despite the loss, Raducanu’s run to the final eight in Miami marked her best performance in a tournament since being crowned 2021 US Open champion. She came into the tournament ranked 60th in the world.
Pegula gave credit to Raducanu’s performance in her post-match comments.
She said: “It was tough. I played a good first set, a little let down in the second, got it back, went up 2-0 in the tiebreak, but it kind of flipped.
“She started moving the ball really well, serving good … sometimes it just happens, but I just wanted to come out in the third really strong, really quick, and just kind of jump on her and not keep the third set too close.”
The other semi-final sees Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka facing Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
On the men’s side, top seed Alexander Zverev was upset by Arthur Fils 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 as the rising Frenchman made the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 tournament for the second straight occasion after doing so at Indian Wells earlier this month.
Fils, 20, next has a quarter-final showdown with 19-year-old Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic.
In a quarter-final, meanwhile, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov outlasted Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, taking almost three hours to win 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse


Miami Open: Alexandra Eala dream run ends as Jessica Pegula sets up Aryna Sabalenka final

Philippine wild card Alexandra Eala beats world No 2 at Miami Open tennis quarter-finals

Miami Open: Filipino Alexandra Eala stuns Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula stops Emma Raducanu

Miami Open: China’s Zheng Qinwen out after defeat by Aryna Sabalenka

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates her victory over Iga Swiatek at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo: AFP

Emma Raducanu congratulates Jessica Pegula after their Miami Open quarter-final. Photo: AFP

Australian Open champion Madison Keys stunned by Filipino wild card Alexandra Eala in Miami

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot against Australian Open champion Madison Keys during their clash at the Miami Open. Photo: AFP

Madison Keys looked on in frustration during her shock loss to Alexandra Eala in Miami. Photo: AFP

Zheng Qinwen acknowledges the crowd as she leaves the court following her loss to Aryna Sabalenka. Photo: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Zheng Qinwen serves against Aryna Sabalenka in Miami. Photo: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jasmine Paolini hits a backhand against Magda Linette at the Miami Open. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Miami Open: China’s Zheng Qinwen to face ‘mountain she cannot climb’ in quarter-finals

Zheng Qinwen celebrates after winning a point against Ashlyn Krueger in the last 16 at the Miami Open. Photo: Reuters

Aryna Sabalenka (left) and Zheng Qinwen after their meeting in Riyadh. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Tennis

Wild card knocks out her third grand slam champion of the tournament and will now face the American fourth seed in the semi-finals


Wild card knocks out her third grand slam champion of the tournament and will now face the American fourth seed in the semi-finals.


The Philippines