Filipina wild card Alexandra Eala has achieved the biggest victory of her career, stunning Polish world number two Iga Swiatek with a commanding 6-2, 7-5 win at the Miami Open on Wednesday. This victory extends Eala’s remarkable run in the tournament, advancing her to the semi-finals.

The talented 19-year-old displayed remarkable composure while facing one of her idols, effortlessly taking control of the match by dismantling Swiatek's serve early on. In her on-court interview, Eala expressed her disbelief and joy, stating, “I don't know what to say, I mean, complete just disbelief right now and I am on cloud nine. It's forever in my heart.”

Throughout the first set, Swiatek struggled to hold serve, finishing with a staggering 19 unforced errors. Despite the pressure, Eala remained aggressive, shifting the momentum in her favor. Although she found herself trailing 4-2 in the second set, Eala showcased her fighting spirit by breaking back and ultimately sealing her victory with her eighth break of the match.

Notably, this win marks the third Grand Slam champion that Eala has defeated this tournament, following her earlier victories against Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

As Eala prepares for her next challenge, she awaits the winner of the quarter-final match between American fourth seed Jessica Pegula and 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu. Meanwhile, in the men's draw, top seed >Alexander Zverev faced an unexpected upset against Arthur Fils, with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, eliminating him from contention.

With Fils' victory, the 20-year-old French player has successfully reached the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 tournament for the second consecutive time, demonstrating his growing prowess on the court. After the match, he reflected on his performance, saying, “In the third set I thought it was over almost, 3-1, he's serving great. But I said don't get mad, just try to play as much as you can, try to fight and if you make a break, it’s nice. And it happened.”

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