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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Rafa Nadal congratulates Alex Eala's quarters win vs Iga Swiatek

Rafa Nadal congratulates Alex Eala's quarters win vs Iga Swiatek

Published Mar 27, 2025 01:05 am

At A Glance

  • None other than tennis legend Rafa Nadal congratulated Alex Eala in her incredible dream run at the 2025 Miami Open, where the 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation stunned another Grand Slam champion in Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, to march into the semifinals on Wednesday, March 26 (early Thursday, Philippine time).

None other than tennis legend Rafa Nadal congratulated Alex Eala in her incredible dream run at the 2025 Miami Open, where the 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation stunned another Grand Slam champion in Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, to march into the semifinals on Wednesday, March 26 (early Thursday, Philippine time).

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Alex Eala, left, with Rafa Nadal. (File Photo/Rafa Nadal Academy)

Nadal took to social media to extend his praise on Eala, who is an alumna of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain.

“We are extremely proud of you, Alex. What an incredible tournament! Let’s keep dreaming!” Nadal wrote, accompanied by a video clip of the match’s last point that showed Eala in disbelief after winning against the world No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam titlist.

Nadal's uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, was also at Eala's box during the match.

"I work very closely with Toni Nadal alongside other people from the (Rafa Nadal) Academy, so it meant a lot that he showed up here," Eala said in an interview.

"I know that he had to catch a flight, but he showed the confidence he had in me and the confidence the Academy had in me," she added.

Swiatek is the third Grand Slam champion that Eala ousted in this Women’s Tennis Association (WTA1000) event, having first beaten 2017 French Open titlist Jelena Ostapenko in the second round and reigning Australian Open winner Madison Keys in the third.

She is also the first Filipina to reach a WTA1000 tournament semifinal.

With the win, Eala has already assured of barging into the Top 100 with a live world ranking of No. 75.

She next faces world No. 4 Jessica Pegula, who overcame 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2, for her third Miami Open semifinal.

Related Tags

Rafa Nadal Miami Open Alex Eala rafanadalacademy
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