Alex Eala reaches Miami Open semifinals, becomes top-ranked SEA player
Filipino tennis player Alex Eala made history by reaching the semifinals of the Miami Open, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions and pushed world no. 4 Jessica Pegula to the limit.
Eala's performance marked her as only the third wild card in tournament history to reach such a high ranking, joining Justine Henin and Victoria Azarenka who were former world No. 1 players.
The 19-year-old Filipina now ranks at no.75 in the WTA Rankings, surpassing Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew as Southeast Asia's highest-ranked player.
Eala's success guarantees her a spot in the main draw of upcoming tournaments and sets up critical months ahead as she transitions into higher-level competitions like the Madrid Open.
Her achievements are seen as significant milestones for Filipino tennis, inspiring hopes for continued growth in her career.
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