Alexandra Eala’s fairytale run at the Miami Open continues after the teenager defeated five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 event.

This was Eala’s career-best victory and means she has now beaten three Grand Slam champions – Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Swiatek – in successive matches.

Eala, who previously wrote a regular blog for itftennis.com, will face world No. 4 Jessica Pegula of the United States for a place in the final.

It has been an amazing tournament for the 19-year-old who has made tennis history for the Philippines, while she will surge into the world’s Top 100 when the WTA Rankings are updated next week.

For those unaware, the ITF travelled to the Rafa Nadal Academy in October 2023 to film Day in the Life: Alexandra Eala. It was a privilege to spend a day with Alex, her father Mike and coach Dani while filming and we really got to know the person behind the player – something we always try to do. 

Day in the Life: Alexandra Eala has been watched more than 85,000 times in the past 48 hours as the tennis spotlight shines on Alex. Watch the video here.

Eala’s potential has been no secret. She is a former junior world No. 2 who won the 2022 US Open girls’ singles title, which was particularly special given her grandparents met in New York in the 1980s. Eala has chalked up five ITF World Tennis Tour titles since clinching her first in January 2021. 

To assist her ongoing development, the teenager is also a four-time recipient of funding through the ITF-operated Grand Slam Player Development Programme, most recently this year.