Alexandra Eala “taped up like a mummy,” no regrets

Posted : 28 March 2025

Alexandra Eala, a 19-year-old wildcard, captured attention at this year's Miami Open with an impressive run to the semi-finals. As the lowest-ranked player, holding the world No. 140 spot, Eala was considered a massive underdog, especially after her remarkable quarter-final victory over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. Eala’s journey ended in the semi-finals when she faced Jessica Pegula, who ultimately proved too strong. Despite a valiant effort, Eala’s run came to an end, and she was forced to push through pain after suffering an ankle injury early in the second set.

Eala’s semi-final match against Pegula, lasting over two hours, was a tightly contested battle. She fought hard but was ultimately defeated 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3. Pegula, the world No. 4, displayed exceptional resilience in overcoming Eala’s challenge, particularly after being broken three times in the second set. The momentum shifted in the decisive set, where Pegula broke Eala’s serve at 5-3, and eventually sealed the win on her second match point.

Despite the loss, Eala showed remarkable determination. She played through an ankle injury, which was taped up alongside her thigh. Reflecting on the match, she expressed both disappointment and gratitude for her incredible journey. "Of course, I’m disappointed. But there are so many times in tennis where you have to dig out the dirt to look for the positive," she said, adding that she was enjoying the experience and felt fortunate to have made it that far.

Eala also acknowledged that her performance during the match was impressive, stating, "I definitely had my chances and I definitely have things I could’ve done better, but I literally gave everything I had." She emphasized that despite being "taped up like a mummy," she had no regrets about her performance and was proud of the effort she gave. She attributed her success at the tournament to stars aligning, adding that her goal was to maintain her strong play moving forward.

After the victory, Pegula admitted to being exhausted, commenting on how difficult the match had been. “I’m so tired, so, so tired,” she said during her on-court interview. Despite the challenging encounter, Pegula expressed admiration for Eala’s skill and predicted that the young Filipino would have a bright future in tennis. "She’s really good," Pegula remarked, praising Eala’s talent and stating, "We’re definitely going to see a lot more of her."

For Pegula, the reward for surviving the tough semi-final is a final showdown against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The two will face off in a rematch of their 2024 US Open final, where Pegula will be looking for revenge after a loss in their previous meeting. However, Pegula’s record against Sabalenka has been less than stellar, with Sabalenka having won six out of their eight previous encounters. Pegula’s only two victories came in 2020 at the Cincinnati Open and in the 2023 WTA Finals.

Pegula's task will not be easy, but she will have the advantage of playing on home soil. While she hopes to overcome Sabalenka and claim the WTA 1000 Masters title, it remains to be seen whether she can break the trend of their head-to-head record. Regardless of the outcome, both players will be looking to make their mark in a highly anticipated final, showcasing the depth of talent at the top of women’s tennis.

Alexandra Eala “taped up like a mummy,” no regrets

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