“My phone was blowing up”: Alex Eala recalls missing Rafael Nadal DM after breakout run

Alex Eala said she only saw a message from Rafael Nadal four days after it was sent during her breakthrough run at the Miami Open, describing the moment as part of the rapid rise in attention surrounding her performances. The Filipina spoke after her latest win at the 2026 Miami Open, where she continues to build on that momentum.

Eala reached the third round of the tournament after defeating Laura Siegemund 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-3 in a three-hour, 20-minute battle — the longest match of her career. The 20-year-old recovered from a set down in a physically and mentally demanding contest, reinforcing her growing ability to compete in extended matches at the highest level.

The match itself featured multiple momentum swings, with Eala narrowly missing her chances in a tight opening-set tiebreak before resetting physically in the second. As rallies extended and games repeatedly went to deuce, the contest became increasingly attritional. Eala’s endurance and shot tolerance proved decisive in the latter stages, as she broke late in both the second and third sets to complete the comeback.

Now 20, Eala is no longer navigating the tour without expectation. Her breakthrough run in Miami in 2025 — where she defeated Jelena Ostapenko, Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys — marked her first WTA 1000 semifinal and established her as one of the most promising young players on the circuit.

Eala identified patience as the decisive factor in her comeback, particularly in a match defined by long rallies and repeated deuce games. She explained that maintaining focus on each point was essential in a contest where momentum remained fragile throughout.

The physical demands were evident, but the emotional intensity stood out more clearly. Eala pointed to a shift in how she now experiences matches, with higher stakes attached to each performance compared to earlier stages of her career. “I think I had to be patient," Eala said to Tennis Channel. "The match was so long I lost my voice. I think patience was key and waiting for the right moments. Yeah, patience, a lot of patience.”

“I often tell my team, every match for me is like life and death now. Luckily, I’m fortunate enough to have reached that level where everyone is a fighter. The level is so close. Especially in matches like these, three and a half hours, I put everything I have into it.”

The victory sets up a Round of 32 meeting with Magda Linette, who produced one of the early surprises of the tournament by eliminating Iga Swiatek. While the result may suggest an opening in the draw, it also underlines the depth of competition Eala faces at this stage of WTA 1000 events.

Returning to the main stadium in Miami — the same venue where she made her breakthrough a year earlier — brought additional pressure. Eala admitted to feeling nerves early in the match, but took confidence from her level of play even after losing the first set. “The work was done before this tournament, so not everything is on the line here. But I’m still super motivated and really want to win.”

Away from the court, Eala is also adapting to the demands that come with increased visibility. She emphasized the importance of maintaining balance during a long season, particularly as expectations continue to grow. “I think time management for me is super key. At the end of the day, I need to have fun on tour. I feel like I’m 20, I need to live my life. Not my whole life is tennis.”

Her rise has also brought moments that reflect the scale of that attention, including a delayed response to a message from Nadal during her breakthrough run. “Well, yeah. My phone was blowing up, and I tried not to look at it a lot. Rafa sent me a message, but I saw it like four days after. I apologized for getting back to him so late, but I said thank you.”