Eala ready for big time tennis

It was one of those rare moments in sports when the loser was the one flashing a bigger smile.

- NELSON BELTRAN

Netting a return shot at match point, Alex Eala was calm and collected, and was soon in glee while giving back love to the adoring, cheering crowd early Friday morning at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

She saw the end of her fairytale run in the Miami Open at the hands of Jessica Pegula but not without a big, big fight and not after pushing her world No. 4 rival to the limit in a three-set grind-out match lasting two hours and 26 minutes.

In dropping the last two games in the decider, Eala, a lovely young lady with a lovely game, barely lost the slam-bang match, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, and let Pegula escape blushes and enter the championship match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

An exhausted Pegula acknowledged the great fight put up by Eala and expressed admiration for the Filipino player she'll likely face some more now in the Tour.

"She's really good; a really good tennis player. She goes for her shots, takes the ball early. She competes really well," said Pegula. "She's been one of the top players this week and I don't really think she needs me to tell her that she's a great tennis player. And she proved that tonight."