ALEX Eala’s impressive journey at the 2025 Miami Open came to a bittersweet end on Friday (28 Mar 2025), as she fell short in the semifinals against world no. 4 Jessica Pegula. Eala battled valiantly but ultimately lost 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3.

The match was a thrilling contest that showcased the rising talent of the 19-year-old Filipina wildcard. Eala made a strong start, racing to a 5-2 lead in the first set before Pegula mounted a comeback to claim it.

Eala then faced a setback in the second set when she needed treatment on her ankle while trailing 3-1. Despite this, the Filipina displayed resilience, battling back to level the score at 5-5, and eventually clinched the set 7-5, forcing a decider.

In the third set, both players exchanged points fiercely, with the score tied at 3-3. However, Pegula’s experience shone through as she pulled away to secure the final set and advance to the finals, where she will face Aryna Sabalenka.

After the match, Pegula praised her opponent’s performance. “She’s really good, [a] really good tennis player. Goes for her shots, takes the ball early. Being a lefty is always tricky. [She] competes really well. Obviously, she has beaten a lot of players this week, I don’t really think she needs me to tell her she’s a great player,” Pegula said in her on-court interview.

Eala’s remarkable run to the semifinals included victories over three Grand Slam champions: Jelena Ostapenko (Round of 64), Madison Keys (Round of 32), and Iga Swiatek (quarterfinals).

With her deep run at the Miami Open, Eala is set to take home $332,160 in prize money and 390 ranking points, and she is expected to break into the top 100 of the WTA rankings.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala may have been defeated by Jessica Pegula in the Miami Open semifinals, but the American player had high praise for her opponent following the match.

Eala lost to Pegula 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3, ending her impressive run in Miami.

“She’s really good, [a] really good tennis player,” Pegula said during an on-court interview. “She goes for her shots, takes the ball early. Being a lefty is always tricky. She competes really well. Obviously, she has beaten a lot of players this week, so I don’t think she needs me to tell her she’s a great player.”

“She proved that tonight. That was really tough,” Pegula added.