IN a much fuller-circle moment, Alex Eala could be headed for a potential rematch with world No. 2 Iga Swiatek should she reach the third round of the prestigious Miami Open in Florida.
This is based on the draws released on Monday.
The 20-year-old Filipina, now ranked world No. 29, advances directly to the Round of 64 after receiving a first-round bye as one of the tournament’s 32 seeded players in the fourth WTA 1000 event of the season.
READ: Alex Eala records new career-high ranking at No. 29
WTA has already hosted four top-level tournaments in Qatar, Dubai, and Indian Wells.
Eala’s seeding marks a full-circle moment from last year, when she entered the Miami Open as a wildcard ranked 140th in the world.
It was then and there that Eala staged her breakthrough run, reaching the semifinals and eventually cracking the Top 100 at No. 75 by the end of the tournament.
During that campaign, she stunned several higher-ranked players, including former world No. 5 Madison Keys and Top 20 Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, as well as Swiatek in their first meet.
Swiatek was able to even out their head-to-head meetings to 1-1, though, winning in Madrid 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
What awaits Alex
Seeking another win against the Polish star, Eala will first open her campaign against either Germany’s Laura Siegemund, currently ranked No. 55, or Croatia’s No. 69 Petra Marcinko, whom the Filipina previously defeated 6-0, 6-2 in Auckland last January.
Should she progress further, Eala could meet No. 17 Clara Tauson in the fourth round —the same opponent she upset in the first round of the US Open, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(11), for her maiden Grand Slam victory.
Other potential early-round opponents include No. 13 Karolina Muchova and No. 61 Camila Osorio, the reigning Philippine Women’s Open champion.
Second-round matches are scheduled from March 19 to 21, Manila time.
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