Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot against Jessica Pegula during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Getty Images/AFP

Filipino teenager tennis player Alex Eala’s end her campaign in the 2025 Miami Open after falling to world No. 4 Jessica Pegula of the United States.

Pegula managed to take care of business in a gruelling three-set affair, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, at the Hard Rock Stadium to advance to the finals of the WTA1000 tournament.

There, she will take on world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who demolished Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in her own semis match, 6-2, 6-2.

Despite the loss, it was an unforgettable campaign for the 19-year-old Eala, who made headlines with a series of upsets against higher-ranked opponents. She soaked in the love from the crowd after the match, pumping her fists amid a chorus of cheers.

“Of course there is disappointment right after the match,” said Eala.

“But there are just so many times in tennis where you have to dig through the dirt to look for the positive and I’m just enjoying because there is so much positive around me and I don’t know how many times that happens,” she added.

Before losing to Pegula, Eala had eliminated former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the second round, then stunned reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the third round. Eala received a walkover to the quarterfinals when her opponent, world No. 11 Paula Badosa of Spain, withdrew due to a back injury.

It was in the last eight that Eala put together her most impressive performance yet, powering past world No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.

She ultimately faltered against Pegula, a former US Open finalist who owns seven WTA singles titles. But it was far from a straightforward triumph for the American, who acknowledged after the match that she was “so, so tired” in the wake of the two-hour, 24-minute marathon.

Eala, who entered the tournament ranked 140th in the world, is poised to enter the WTA Top 100 and collect her biggest prize purse yet. She only had two WTA main draw victories prior to the Miami Open, but is now tipped for greater things after her breakthrough campaign.