In March 2025, 19-year-old Filipina Alexandra Eala, whose “main goal is simply to be the best version of myself,” became the sensation of the Miami Open. Ranked 140th and without a WTA-level victory against a Top 100 opponent, she defied expectations by stunning three Grand Slam champions – Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek – en route to the semifinals. This remarkable run also etched her name in history as the first Filipina woman to reach a WTA event semifinal. Eala’s journey to this breakthrough began at just 13, when she left the Philippines for the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, a place she calls “home” for the past seven years. Crediting the Academy for her strong foundation, she’s had the invaluable experience of watching her “idol,” Rafael Nadal, train and even receiving guidance from Toni Nadal. But there’s a fascinating detail about her story that has remained under wraps until now…

Speaking about her early days at the Academy, she once shared a story saying, “It is hugely inspirational to see him practicing almost every day and to see him in the gym. It’s really motivating to see his work ethic and something that we can all copy from him. Of course, to be within the presence of all this history and especially here in the museum to see it again. I looked up to him as a kid and I saw a lot of similarities. You know, we’re both lefties. I loved how he fought on court. So I try to also channel that when I play tennis.” Her incredible performance in Miami didn’t go unnoticed.

The tennis legend Rafael Nadal congratulated Eala multiple times throughout her Miam campaign. Interestingly, Rafa’s uncle & ex-coach, Toni Nadal, had even attended her match against Swiatek. Speaking about Toni, after that match, Eala said, “Well, I worked very closely with Toni alongside, of course, my coach Joan, Sandro, and the other people from the academy. It meant a lot that he showed up here. I know that he had to catch a flight, but it showed the confidence he had in me and the confidence the academy had in me. I also didn’t know that he was going to come until this morning.” Now, the current mentor of Eala, Joan Boix, has elaborated on Toni’s role in Alexandra Eala’s rapid rise.

During an April 23rd interview with Punto de Break, Boix asked to reflect on how “coaches always find it hard to take credit for their player’s successes.”

“Look, I am the Head Coach at the Academy in the mornings; I have around 70 kids under my supervision, and I treat them all the same. Yet, not all of them have made it to the semifinals of Miami. It’s not about modesty; it’s common sense. A good coach makes a big difference, in that, I agree with you, that’s why we focus a lot on training coaches. Then it’s crucial to find someone who is motivated and to place them in a project they believe in. I trusted Alex from the beginning, although it was Toni Nadal who initially suggested it to me. She is a very intelligent person, very easy to coach, though it’s also true that everything has been going very well for her,” revealed the coach, who had coached Carlos Moyá for seven seasons.

Entering the tournament as a wildcard and then making it to the semis was truly a dream come true for this teenager. What was Toni Nadal’s reaction to seeing her reach heights at such a young age?

In a previous interview with MARCA, Toni said, “For the academy and for me in particular, it’s a huge success. “She’s the girl who’s been with us the longest. In all this time, there’s never been a single complaint from anyone, neither from her nor from her family. She’s shown she has great potential because it’s not easy to beat the world’s No. 2 and No. 5 in the same tournament.” Not only that, he even made some bold predictions about the Filipina, saying that once she gets her game right, she could be “among the best in the world.”

Well, amid all her success stories from Miami, Eala has now been put to a litmus test in Madrid! What’s it?

Alexandra Eala is all set to take on Iga Swiatek for the second time this season

Alexandra Eala’s 6-2,7-5 win against the former world number one, Iga Swiatek in Miami was a head-turner! After that match, even Eala was heard admitting, “I’m in complete disbelief right now, I’m on cloud nine.” Fast forward one month, she’ll yet again crosss paths with the five-time Grand Slam champion on the Pole’s favorite surface. Repeat or Revenge?

Interesting Fact: Two years ago, Eala graduated from the Rafael Nadal Academy, where Iga Swiatek spoke as the commencement speaker. She even has a photo alongside Swiatek and Nadal from that event.

After clinching a comfortable victory against Viktoriya Tomova in the R128 on Tuesday, she spoke of her next opponent, Swiatek. “Iga is an all-court player. I think that she plays well on hard, she plays well on clay. But I definitely think that each match is a different story. Even if it’s against the same player every time — doesn’t matter if I play her at the same time next year in Miami or in Madrid next year — it’s going to be a different story than the last one,” she remarked

What did the defending champion have to say before this match, though? “I feel like I know this place pretty well, so I’m going to for sure use the experience — but the experience doesn’t play, though.” 

Eala has a 15-9 record in 2025, and she believes each match is a different story! But can she lead yet another fairytale in the Spanish capital and take her h2h against the Pole, 2-0? Share your thoughts in the comment box.