Filipina tennis star Alex Eala delivered her biggest win of 2025, pulling off a stunning upset against world No. 73 Katie Volynets of the United States, 6-3, 7-6(3), in the opening round of the Miami Open on Wednesday, March 19 (Thursday, March 20, Manila time).
Eala, ranked No. 140 in the world, defied expectations as most oddsmakers predicted a straight-set victory for the more experienced Volynets, who has reached the third round of the Australian Open and the second round of the French Open and US Open.
The 19-year-old Filipina displayed remarkable composure, especially in the second set when Volynets fought back from 3-5 down to force a tiebreak. Despite trailing 1-3, Eala dominated the next six points to close out the match in one hour and 52 minutes.
Eala controlled the tempo by matching Volynets’ long rallies and forcing her opponent to play defensively. She also showcased her tactical versatility, mixing up her shots and rushing the net to keep Volynets off balance.
With this victory, Eala advances to the round of 64, where she will face her toughest challenge yet—world No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, on Friday, March 21.