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I Gave My All, Hope To Keep It Up: Eala
The Straits Times
|March 29, 2025
Philippine teen has no regrets and looks for positives after losing in semifinals to Pegula
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Philippine sensation Alexandra Eala has no regrets, as her remarkable run at the Miami Open came to a brave end with a three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on March 27.
In an enthralling battle over 2hr 26min, fourth-seeded American Pegula emerged with a 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3 win to seal a place in the March 29 final against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who put on a comprehensive display to demolish Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2.
The 19-year-old Eala, ranked 140th in the world, had only two WTA main-draw victories before arriving in Miami.
But she proceeded to beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
The lowest-ranked semifinalist in the tournament's history, Eala seriously threatened to go one step further with another accomplished and effervescent display.
The tide looked to have turned against her when Pegula broke to go 3-1 up in the second set, but Eala broke back and her fist pump and look of determination were signs of things to come.
This story is from the March 29, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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