Madison Keys, Australian Open champion, lost unexpectedly to teenager Alexandra Eala in the Miami Open, with Eala making history as the first Filipina woman to defeat a top-10 opponent. Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic also achieved significant victories, with Swiatek reaching a record 25th consecutive last 16 and Djokovic breaking the all-time ATP Masters 1000 match wins record.
American fifth seed Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, faced a stunning defeat in the Miami Open against 19-year-old Filipina wildcard Alexandra Eala. Eala’s 6-4, 6-2 victory marked a significant milestone, as she became the first woman from the Philippines to defeat a top-10 opponent since 1975. Following the match, she celebrated enthusiastically with her team.
Eala, who is also the 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion, has been training at the Rafael Nadal academy since she was 13 years old. Next, she will compete against Spain’s Paula Badosa for a place in the quarterfinals. “Growing up it was tough… I hope this takes Filipino tennis to the next step,” Eala expressed during her on-court interview.
Keys acknowledged her struggle on the court, admitting her performance was below par. “My serve was not really there today… playing someone who makes a ton of balls back and absorbs really well, that’s not really the keys to success,” she remarked after the match, reflecting on her previous defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells.
In another match, Iga Swiatek secured her place in the last 16 of a WTA 1000 tournament, achieving a record 25th consecutive event at this level. Swiatek triumphed over Elise Mertens with a score of 7-6 (7/2), 6-1. While she faced a challenge, bouncing from a 5-2 lead to 5-5 in the first set, she regained control in the tie-breaker and dominated the second set.
Patience was key for Swiatek as she noted, “In the first set, my serve wasn’t working perfectly. I’m glad I was patient enough to just work for it, and in the second set I felt much better.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the 22nd seed, progressed to the fourth round by defeating 15th-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic achieved a historic milestone, surpassing Rafael Nadal for the most ATP Masters 1000 match wins.
Djokovic’s 6-1, 7-6 (7/1) victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli marked his 411th win at this level. Additionally, American Brandon Nakashima ousted Belgian veteran David Goffin, while Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a loss to 24th-seeded American Sebastian Korda.
Korda expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s awesome. I was born in Florida… I’m just happy with my performance today.” Finally, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov achieved a notable win against Karen Khachanov, making him the fourth active player to reach 100 Masters 1000 hard-court wins. “It’s beautiful I think every time you hit such a milestone,” Dimitrov reflected after the match.
The Miami Open has witnessed remarkable upsets and record achievements, highlighted by Madison Keys’ sudden exit against the talented Alexandra Eala, who made history for Filipino tennis. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek continues her impressive streak, and Novak Djokovic sets a new record for the most match wins in ATP Masters 1000 history. As the tournament progresses, the stage is set for further exciting matchups and potential surprises.
Original Source: www.mykxlg.com
