‘On cloud nine’: Alex Eala shocks 5-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in Miami Open

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Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala extends her dream run in the Miami Open after a huge 6-2, 7-5 upset against five-time major titlist Iga Swiatek to advance to the semifinals.  Full story: https://www.rappler.com/sports/tennis-results-alex-eala-iga-swiatek-miami-open-march-26-2025/

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00:00Filipino tennis ace Alex Ayala extends her dream run in the Miami Open after a huge 6-2,

00:077-5 upset against five-time major titleist Iga Sviatek to advance to the semifinals.

00:13The 19-year-old wildcard did not succumb to the pressure, facing the world number two

00:17Sviatek and embraced the opportunity to beat her idol.

00:22After failing to hold serve in the opening game, Ayala won six of the next seven, breaking

00:26Sviatek four times to get the first set.

00:30She then continued to dominate by racing to a 2-0 lead in the second set, but Sviatek

00:35refused to back down without a fight.

00:37However, Ayala maintained her poise, tied the game at 4-4, then 5-5, before she broke

00:43Sviatek for the eighth and last time to clinch the improbable win.

00:48My coach told me to run, to go for every ball, take all the opportunities I can because five-time

00:55Grand Slam champion is not gonna give you the win.

00:59It's forever in my heart.

01:01The incredible run made Ayala the first Filipino tennis player to reach the semifinals of a

01:06Women's Tennis Association 1000 event.

01:09She also cracked the top 100 of WTA for the first time and is poised to claim her biggest

01:14purse yet as she is guaranteed at least $332,160 or over 19 million pesos.

01:21From being ranked 140 in the world, Ayala climbed to number 75 in the live rankings

01:26and will likely gain direct entry to three other Grand Slam events of the year.

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