“I’ve witnessed poverty… I don’t take anything for granted”: Alexandra Eala reflects on mindset behind Miami Open run

Alex Eala is once again making a deep run at the Miami Open, advancing into the fourth round after a straight-sets win over Magda Linette, backing up the level she showed at this event a year ago.

Now ranked World No. 29, the Filipino arrives in Miami defending semifinal points from her breakthrough 2025 campaign, and has once again positioned herself among the last players standing. This time, she does so with a clearer sense of perspective—something she has repeatedly linked to gratitude and the experiences that shaped her rise.

Her run this week has included wins over Laura Siegemund (6-7, 6-3, 6-3) and Magda Linette (6-3, 7-6), the latter coming against a player who had eliminated Iga Swiatek in the previous round. The result reinforces her growing consistency at WTA 1000 level following a 2025 season in which she finished inside the Top 50.

That rise began at this same tournament, where Eala entered as World No. 140 on a wildcard and produced one of the standout runs of the year. She defeated Grand Slam champions Jeļena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Swiatek—two of them Top 5 players—before falling to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, a run that ultimately pushed her into the Top 100 and reshaped her trajectory on tour.

Eala acknowledged that Linette raised her level in the second set, forcing her into more difficult positions and testing her ability to stay proactive. Instead of reacting to the momentum shift, she chose to stay committed to her own game, describing a mindset built around acceptance and intent.

“I think I just told myself to be brave. Just do whatever I could," the 20-year-old player said in press conference. "I can’t control how she was playing and she, I think, upped her game in the second, so I tried to go for my shots and they were effective, luckily.”

That clarity has been a consistent element in her progression, particularly in high-pressure moments where matches are often decided by a small number of points. Her willingness to take initiative rather than absorb pressure has allowed her to convert tight situations into opportunities.

The same approach extends beyond individual points and into broader match conditions, including the disruptions that have characterised the opening week in Miami. “It really depends," the world No. 29 said. "I think you have to stay warm first and then you need to see how the weather goes because it’s always very unpredictable, but nobody knows what’s gonna happen. We can’t tell the future, so we do our best to handle what we can.”

Alongside her on-court development, Eala has consistently framed her progress through a wider perspective, linking performance to personal experience rather than outcomes alone. Asked about her repeated references to gratitude, she described it as something grounded in her environment and upbringing.

“I think the fact I recognize that I’m also blessed to be living my life, or the life that I live, of course I’ve earned it. I’ve definitely earned it. I’ve put in the work, that’s not to be questioned, but then again I think it’s so important to be grateful for what you have.”

Her response moved beyond tennis, pointing to what she has seen growing up and how that shapes her approach to both success and opportunity. “I’ve witnessed poverty in my surroundings, so I don’t take for granted anything, especially family and my team, and just the opportunities I’m able to have. So that’s why I make it a point to always be grateful.”

That perspective now travels with her into the next round, where she is set to face 13th seed Karolina Muchova, a recent WTA 1000 champion in Doha. "She’s obviously a great player and is doing really well," Eala claimed.

For Eala, the matchup represents another step in her progression at this level, one she approaches with the same balance of awareness and ambition. "A couple years back, I watched one of her finals and I was really impressed, so to be put in a position to compete against her is a real privilege and gonna be a test for sure.”