Alexandra Eala’s remarkable journey at the Miami Open continues, as the rising star from the Philippines has advanced to her first-ever Hologic WTA Tour quarterfinal without playing a match.
Eala, who entered the tournament as a wild card, was set to face No. 10 seed Paula Badosa in the fourth round on Monday. However, Badosa withdrew due to a low back injury, allowing Eala to move forward in the draw.
Both players had delivered thrilling performances in the previous round. The 18-year-old Eala, ranked World No. 140, stunned No. 5 seed and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, marking the best-ever Miami Open result by a Filipino player in the Open Era. Meanwhile, Badosa secured a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over No. 20 seed Clara Tauson, but required a medical timeout during the match.
With this latest development, Eala’s historic run gains even more momentum as she prepares for her quarterfinal clash, aiming to extend her breakthrough performance on one of the biggest stages in tennis.
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