FIRST match back in Miami, and it’s no soft landing.
Alex Eala opens her Miami Open campaign against Germany’s Laura Siegemund, a first time meeting that presents an immediate stylistic test.
After a first-round bye, Eala will meet in the round of 64 a 38-year-old known for her junk-ball craft — the kind that disrupts rhythm and frustrates big hitters like the Filipina rising star.
The timing adds pressure, as well. In the live rankings, Eala, officially No. 29, slipped to around No. 50 following the 52-week reset, dropping 380 points from last year’s run in the same tournament.
READ: This is why Alex Eala fell to No. 50 just two days after career-high No. 29
Siegemund, currently No. 53, enters fresh off a 6-4, 6-4 win over Petra Marcinko in the opening round. A former world No. 27, she owns two WTA titles (Stuttgart 2017, Bastad 2016) and brings veteran grit, bolstered by multiple Grand Slam doubles titles across the US Open and Roland Garros.
Eala, meanwhile, comes off a round of 16 finish at Indian Wells, where she bowed to Linda Noskova, 2-6, 0-6.
Back to where the breakthrough began
Miami, though, is familiar ground. Just a year ago, she surged to a breakthrough semifinal, toppling names like Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys before falling to Jessica Pegula.
No exact schedule yet, but the clash is expected for either March 19 or 20, Manila time.
Miami is Eala's eighth stop this year following runs in Auckland, Australian Open, Philippine Women's Open, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Dubai, and Indian Wells.
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