At just 19, Alexandra Eala has already etched her name in tennis history, but the Filipina sensation is keeping her focus razor-sharp as she prepares for a blockbuster rematch against World No. 2 Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open. Fresh off a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova in the first round, Eala is bracing for a second-round clash with the defending champion on the clay courts of the Caja Mágica. Despite her seismic upset over Swiatek at the Miami Open last month, Eala is downplaying the hype, emphasizing that “each match is a different story” as she navigates the pressures of a WTA 1000 event.
Eala’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of meteoric. A wildcard entrant in Madrid, she burst onto the global stage in Miami, where she stunned three Grand Slam champions—Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Swiatek—en route to her first WTA semifinal. Her 6-2, 7-5 victory over Swiatek, a five-time major champion, was dubbed one of the biggest upsets of 2025, catapulting Eala from World No. 140 to a career-high No. 72. “I’m in complete disbelief right now, I’m on cloud nine,” she said after that Miami triumph, a moment made even more surreal by their shared history. In 2023, Swiatek, alongside Rafael Nadal, presented Eala with her graduation certificate at the Rafa Nadal Academy, where the Filipina has trained since age 13. “It’s so surreal,” Eala reflected, noting how circumstances have shifted from that ceremonial moment to facing her idol on the court.
Now, as she prepares to meet Swiatek again, Eala is keeping her eyes on the present. “Now that the dust has settled, I try not to think about Miami so much,” she told reporters after her win over Tomova. “Personally, of course it comes to mind when everyone’s asking—but in my mind, I have my whole life to look back at those moments and I’ll always have those memories. But the tour goes on, competition goes on, so right now I’m fully focused on Madrid.” Her measured approach reflects the professionalism that fueled her Miami run, where she credited her coach’s advice to “run, to go for every ball, to take all the opportunities” against a player who “is not going to give you the win.”
Eala’s first-round performance against Tomova showcased her growing confidence. Despite a shaky start, trailing 1-2 after an early break, she rallied to win four straight games, sealing the first set in 49 minutes. The second set saw her dominate, breaking Tomova three times to close out the match in just over an hour. Converting six of nine break-point opportunities while saving five of eight against her, Eala’s aggressive left-handed forehand and quick footwork were on full display. This victory marks her second straight year advancing past the Madrid Open’s first round, a testament to her comfort at the WTA 1000 level.
For Swiatek, the rematch is a chance to reclaim her dominance on clay, her preferred surface. The 23-year-old Pole, who saved three championship points to win Madrid in 2024, is under pressure to rebound from a title-less 2025, punctuated by a recent quarterfinal loss to Ostapenko in Stuttgart. “She was very aggressive and stayed on target the whole match,” Swiatek said of Eala’s Miami performance, noting her unexpected flat shots and relentless returns. With 4,000 ranking points to defend across Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros, Swiatek is eager to avenge her Miami defeat, but Eala’s fearless style—marked by stylish drop shots and short-hopped returns—poses a unique challenge.
The Madrid crowd is buzzing with anticipation, amplified by Eala’s historic rise as the first Filipina to crack the WTA Top 100. Her Miami run, where she became the second wildcard to defeat three Grand Slam champions in a single WTA event, has inspired a nation. “I would love to think that I make a difference,” Eala said, hoping to inspire Filipinos to pick up a racket. Social media reflects the excitement, with fans praising her poise and predicting another upset. Yet, Eala remains unfazed by the spotlight. “I don’t think my game will change on clay,” she said, dismissing concerns about the surface shift. With Toni Nadal in her corner and a guaranteed French Open main-draw berth, Eala’s star continues to rise, but her focus is clear: treat this match like any other, and let her game do the talking.