Alex Eala will once again challenge world no. 2 Iga Swiatek—this time on the clay courts of the Madrid Open, where the Polish superstar is the defending champion.
Following their first matchup at the Miami Open, Alex Eala and Iga Swiatek are set to collide once again—this time on the grittier terrain of Madrid’s red clay.
Their upcoming showdown at another WTA 1000 event promises to reignite a budding rivalry that stunned tennis fans last month.
From Upset to Ascent: Eala’s Breakthrough Run
In March, Eala shocked the tennis world by toppling world no. 2 Swiatek in the Miami Open quarterfinals—a defining moment in the young Filipina's career. Since then, the 19-year-old has only climbed higher.
While Eala's magical Miami run ended in a tough three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, her campaign included three victories over former Grand Slam champions.
That performance catapulted Eala to a career-best WTA ranking of no. 72, and she entered the Oeiras Open in Portugal as the top seed to start the clay season.
Though she notched a solid win over Anouk Koevermans in the opening round, her tournament in Portugal ended in the Round of 16 with a narrow loss to Hungary’s Panna Udvardy.
Now in Madrid, Eala heads into rematch with confidence after a quick 6-3, 6-2 dismissal of world no. 64 Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria in her tournament opener.
Swiatek’s Struggles Continue
For Swiatek, the Miami loss was more than a bump—it signaled the start of an unusually shaky stretch.
Despite her dominance on clay, the Polish ace is still searching for her first WTA title in 2025.
Her latest campaign in Stuttgart saw her breeze past Jana Fett in the Round of 16, only to be stopped again by Jelena Ostapenko—her sixth straight loss to the Latvian.
Still, Madrid has historically been a stronghold for Swiatek. She boasts a 13-2 career record at the event, including her 2024 championship run, and will be eager to reset the narrative against a rising Eala.
Rematch Ready
As they meet again, the stakes are heavier and the setting more punishing.
Eala seeks to prove Miami was no fluke. Swiatek looks to reassert her clay-court reign and avenge her initial loss.
When these two lock horns in Madrid, it won’t just be a rematch—it’ll be a statement.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]