NO order is too tall for Alex Eala who marked her return to her breakthrough tournament, the Miami Open, by escaping Germany’s Laura Siegemund, 6(6)–7, 6–3, 6–3, in a three-hour thriller early Friday morning, Manila time, to open her campaign.
The rising star, No. 29, raced to a 3–0 lead in the opening set before the veteran No. 52 clawed back and forced a tiebreak, where she edged it out despite a late ace from the Filipina.
Eala took control in the second set behind her first serve, winning all such points to level the match, before she dominated the decider with a 4–1 cushion and never looked back in the match that reached three hours and 20 minutes.
Advancing to the round of 32, the Filipina now awaits a possible rematch with Iga Swiatek, should the latter win her round-of-64 match against fellow Polish Magda Linette.
Swiatek and Eala are currently tied 1–1, with the world No. 3 the highest-ranked opponent Eala has defeated, an upset she achieved during last year’s Miami Open.
Miami marks her eighth tournament of the year, following stints in ASB Classic, the Australian Open, Philippine Women’s Open, Abu Dhabi Open, Qatar Open, Dubai Tennis Championships, and Indian Wells Open.
It will also be pivotal for Eala, the tournament’s 31st seed, to make a deep run, as the 390 points she earned from last year have reset and will reflect in the next WTA rankings.
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