Swiatek stunned at Miami Open as young qualifier | Sports News

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek was stunned within the quarter-final of the Miami Open after making security complaints during a follow session, shedding in straight units (6-2, 7-5) to Alexandra Eala, a 19-year-old qualifier from the Philippines. Eala overturned a 4-2 deficit within the second set and is now assured to develop into the primary Filipina to be ranked inside the Top 100 of the PIF WTA Rankings.

Eala’s breakthrough Miami Open match has continued, beating Swiatek after already eliminating high stars such as Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys on her path to the quarter-finals. Eala was additionally scheduled to face Paula Badosa within the Round of 16, however her opponent withdrew from the competition.

The 19-year-old was a Rafael Nadal Academy graduate, and had Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni, in her participant box for the largest recreation of her profession. Eala produced a assertion efficiency and turns into the primary participant from the Philippines to succeed in a tour-level semifinal.

Eala was shocked as soon as the match was over, and struggled to return to the belief that she’d defeated one of the best gamers in latest historical past. Swiatek held the title of World No. 1 for 125 weeks, profitable 5 grand slams by the age of 23.

Swiatek handed Eala her certificates when she graduated from the Nadal academy in 2023, and two years later she’s been crushed by the rising star. Eala will now face both Emma Raducanu or Jessica Pegula for a place within the Miami Open last.

In complete, Eala has crushed three earlier Grand Slam champions on her path to the semi-finals, and mentioned during her on-court interview: “I don’t know what to say. I’m in complete disbelief right now. I’m on cloud nine. Thank you everyone who came to watch, and thanks to everyone watching from home.”

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When talking to Sky Sports, Eala added: “It’s such a huge jump, you know? I don’t know, my mind is really blank now. I don’t think I’ve processed what I’ve just done. In the end, I’m still the same player I was two weeks ago so it’s weird because so much has changed but nothing really has changed.

“That’s not one thing you actually take into consideration coming in, that you simply’re going to beat Slam champions. But I consider it each time earlier than the match – similar at the moment and similar earlier than the following match.”

Eala entered Wednesday’s match as the World No. 140, however will now soar up the WTA Rankings. Ahead of the Miami Open, Eala had by no means crushed an opponent who was ranked within the Top 40, and even been matched up towards somebody inside the Top 20.

The 19-year-old has now crushed a former World No. 1, and is the third wild card in historical past to succeed in the final 4 in Miami, following Justine Henin (2010) and Victoria Azarenka (2018), although each have been former World No. 1s who have been coming off the back of long breaks from tennis.

Should Eala beat both Pegula or Raducanu, she is going to face both No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or No. 6 Jasmie Paolini within the last. Eala has by no means gone previous the second spherical of a WTA 1000 occasion, however will now contest for a place within the last.