THE hustle continues for Alex Eala as she pulled off yet another upset, taking down former world No. 5 Madison Keys, 6-4, 6-2, early Monday morning (Manila time) in the Round of 32 of the prestigious WTA 1000 Miami Open.
Just two days after ousting world No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko, the 19-year-old Filipina netter surprisingly got her way in two sets against the Australian Open champion to reach the Final 16 of a WTA event for the first time in her career.
READ Alex Eala scores massive stunner vs No. 25 Ostapenko
"I'm so blank," the world No. 140 beamed during the on-court interview as a group of flag-waving supporters cheered just behind her. "I'm thinking of my parents. 'Mom and dad, nakuha ko!' My God."
By becoming the first-ever Filipino netter to defeat a Top 10 player, Eala assured herself of a six-figure paycheck heading to the next round.
However, it doesn't get any easier for the former US Open juniors champion as she takes on former World No. 2 Paula Badosa of Spain on Tuesday morning (7 a.m., Manila time) for a place in the quarterfinals.
While the 30-year old Keys controlled the first seven games, Eala turned the tide with a crucial break in the ninth game, 5-4, on the way to winning the first set.
She continued to dominate in the second, breaking Keys' serve twice — at 3-2 and 5-2 —before sealing the match with a history-making victory for the Philippines.
Eala kept up the momentum by keeping her double faults to a minimum, committing just one while Keys struggled with four.
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