Alex Eala stunned former world No. 5 Sara Errani of Italy, 6-3, 6-1, to advance to the final qualifying round of the Miami Open 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Monday, March 18 (Manila time).

The 18-year-old Filipina tennis sensation banked on her strong serves to frustrate Errani, a 2012 Roland Garros finalist, to inch closer to the main draw round of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event.

It was Eala’s biggest victory to date, having beaten a high-caliber player like Errani, who currently ranks No. 100 in the world and boasts of five Grand Slam doubles titles.

“A day of firsts at Miami Open! First Top 100 win! First time through the final qualy of a WTA 1000 event! Lets’ keep pushing!” Eala wrote on social media moments after her victory.

But a tougher road awaits for Eala as she next faces Colombian Emiliana Arango on Tuesday, March 19 (Manila time), for a spot in the 128-player main draw.

The 23-year-old Colombian who rose from a second-set hiccup and turned back Kayla Day of the United States, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.

On paper, Arango has more experience than Eala with her current career ranking at No. 121. The Filipina is at No. 176.

Though the Colombian only has three International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles compared to Eala’s four, Arango has beaten former world No. 3 Sloane Stephens at the 2023 Guadalajara Open Akron, as well as former world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva at the 2023 Catalonia Open.

But expect Eala to go all out to clinch her third main draw stint at the said tournament.