ALEX EALA, much like in her previous WTA 1000 event, will advance to the next round of the 2025 Madrid Open after defeating Bulgaria’s World No. 64 Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-2, in the Round of 128 on Tuesday.
Fans were reminded of Eala’s performance at the 2025 Miami Open when she met Tomova, as she dominated the higher seeded opponent with her unwavering intensity throughout the game.
With this victory, the Filipina tennis star, who is now ranked 72nd in the world by the WTA, will face a familiar opponent. She will face world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the Round of 64, whom she previously defeated in the quarterfinals.
Pure Dominance
At the start of the first set, Eala trailed 1-2. She swiftly turned the match around, scoring four consecutive games to take control of the rest of the set and go away with a 6-3 victory.
After dominating the first set, the 19-year-old Filipina took an early 4-1 lead in the second. Tomova stopped the bleeding, but it appeared to be her final point, as Eala handled her rather effectively.
Eala will now move with more momentum and a memory to cherish, having played at center court in Madrid against a world No. 64 player, which she considers a significant honor in her young career.
Playing with Joy
Eala’s joy was further demonstrated after the game, when she had an interview with the media and couldn’t contain her excitement about her victory and the thrill of playing on one of tennis’ finest stages.
“Super fun! It was huge and the atmosphere was just incredible. I’m so happy with the way I performed and I kept my cool throughout the whole match,” Eala explained after the game.
Besides the stunning win, it is good to note that Eala produced excellent points, including a perfectly executed volley that had the crowd on its feet. She also displayed great poise through tight moments.
“I think you just have to go with no doubts and trust your shots. It happens in every match. There are tough games in every match and tough moments. So, trust that I know how to deal with it,” she said.
“Conditions change a lot depending on the weather more than the court, but it’s one of the best clay courts you can ever play on,” she went on to say.
Same Mindset
Meanwhile, for her rematch with Swiatek, Eala insist that her mentality will be the same, “[I’m going in] with the same mentality as every match. She’s a big player, so I have to be ready for what she’s gonna bring.”
“Just because I beat her last time, it’s not like, oh, I’m gonna beat her this time. The work’s not done yet, and the pressure is not over yet,” she added.
Eala will be hopeful to pull off another upset against world No. 2 Swiatek when they meet on Friday, at a time to be specified by the league.
