Alexandra Eala made headlines at the recent Miami Open by reaching her first WTA 1000 semi-final, after entering the main draw with a wildcard. The 19-year-old Filipino, who trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy, revealed she received a message of support from the 22-time Grand Slam champion following her remarkable run at Crandon Park.
The teenager was the tournament’s biggest surprise. After defeating local favourite Katie Volynets in the opening round, she claimed the biggest win of her career by beating former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko (25th seed) — her first-ever win over a top-30 player.
But few could have predicted what came next. Eala went on to eliminate the 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys (World No. 5), once again notching a career-best victory. She then advanced to the quarter-finals after the withdrawal of 10th seed Paula Badosa due to injury. Even more shockingly, she defeated five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek (World No. 2), securing her third consecutive career-best win.
Her dream run continued into the semi-finals, where she faced a tough battle against World No. 4 Jessica Pegula. Despite a brave fight, Eala eventually fell in three sets: 6-7, 7-5, 3-6. Still, her impressive campaign guaranteed her a leap of over 60 ranking spots to a career-high World No. 75.
Alexandra Eala at Miami Open press conference two weeks ago.
Though relatively unknown to many prior to the tournament, Eala had already impressed at the junior level. She won the 2022 US Open girls' title and reached a junior career-high of World No. 2 back in 2020, when she also made the French Open semi-finals.
Trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy from a young age in Mallorca, Eala graduated from the Spanish legend’s academy in 2023. While Nadal had publicly congratulated her on social media, it wasn’t known that he had also reached out privately — until now. “Rafa messaged me,” Eala said during an appearance on Power and Play. “It was the first time he ever messaged me personally so I think that was a shock to see.”
“Funny story, I only saw it like a couple of days [later]. It was exciting to see his notification,” she added.
Eala was undoubtedly the standout story from the women’s draw at the Miami Open and has caught the attention of the tennis world as a rising star. However, she remains focused on her development: “I think I have been improving for a while [on] everything — a little bit my serve, a little bit of my fitness, the quality of my shots, how to build a point.
“It took me a while to really mesh those things together and make it come out during matches. But as you can see, when I’m playing well, the level is really there,” she stated. “I feel this week is really going to help with the trust that I have in myself and the trust that I have in my game. When I need to go for those big points, I believe I have the level to do so.”
In 2023 Alexandra Eala graduated from The Rafa Nadal Academy and had her picture taken next to Rafa and Iga.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 26, 2025
2 years later she's playing Iga Swiatek at the Miami Open in the biggest match of her life.
Love this. pic.twitter.com/F18uosWr3Z
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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