'Let's Keep Dreaming': Alexandra Eala Receives Massive Praise From Rafael Nadal
On Wednesday, Alexandra Eala beat Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 in a surprising quarterfinal result and is now in the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event.
Ace Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal on Thursday extended his heartfelt wishes to Alexandra Eala, a product of his academy, who toppled five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
Coming into the event as a wildcard, Eala has defeated three major champions, Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Swiatek, on her way to qualifying for the semifinals.
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On Wednesday, Eala beat Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 in a surprising quarterfinal result and is now in the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event.
“We are extremely proud of you, Alex. What an incredible tournament! Let’s keep dreaming," Nadal tweeted.
“I don’t know what to say, I mean, complete just disbelief right now and I am on cloud nine. It’s forever in my heart," Eala said while speaking after the match.
It was two years back that the teenager graduated as a student and took a picture while posing with Nadal and Swiatek.
After defeating Swiatek, Eala became the first player from the Philippines to advance to the semifinals of a WTA 1000 tournament. She earlier defeated Ostapenko 7-6, 7-5 in the Round of 64, after which she defeated Keys 6-4, 6-2.
Eala will now be up against last year’s US Open runner-up, Jessica Pegula, for a place in the final. The latter beat Britain’s Emma Raducanu 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Ranked 140th in the world, Eala, the first woman from her nation to reach the last eight of a WTA 1000 tournament, took advantage of a poor display from Swiatek, keeping her focus as she fought back from 4-2 down in the second set.
Eala broke Swiatek for the eighth and final time when the latter was serving to stay in the match at 6-5 down in the second set and looked stunned as she struggled to contain her emotions.
Eala moved to Spain at the age of 13 to join Nadal’s academy in Mallorca, and Toni Nadal, the Spaniard’s uncle and former coach, was in her box for the match.
Swiatek will look forward to moving on to the clay season after conceding that she had been far from her usual level.
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