What Iga Swiatek said about Alex Eala in Miami Open match

Published March 27, 2025 10:35pm

Mar 26, 2025; Alex Eala (PHL)(R) shakes hands with Iga Swiatek (POL)(L) at the net after their match on day nine of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. (Photo: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/REUTERS)

Alex Eala “went all in” in her quarterfinals match in the Miami Open on early Thursday, according to her opponent and world no. 2 Iga Swiatek.

Eala defeated Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, to advance to the semifinals.

READ MORE | Alex Eala at the 2025 Miami Open

The 5-time Grand Slam champion said Eala had a nice rhythm during their match which the Filipino tennis ace used to her advantage.

“I mean, her being a lefty didn’t surprise me, but for sure, like, she went all in,” Swiatek said in a press conference.

“She made these returns in and pretty long, and so it wasn’t easy to hit it back. She was pretty loosened up and just went for it. Yeah, I mean, she felt the nice rhythm and it helped her.”

Swiatek said she also saw Eala’s intentions during their match.

“Well, for sure, I didn’t know she’s going to play that flat, but besides that, well, she was really aggressive, you know, and she kept her focus. And, like, I don’t know, some of these shots were pretty like out of nowhere. But still, you know, I could see clearly she has intentions to go forward and to push. So it worked for her today, for sure,” she added.

Eala, meanwhile, said she was in disbelief after pulling off a major upset against Swiatek.

The Filipina tennis ace, who is expected to enter the top 100 in women’s rankings, will now face Jessica Pegula in the semis on Friday morning.