Miami Open Sizzles with Upsets and Record-Breaking Wins

Eala's Stunning Upset

Nineteen-year-old wild card Alexandra Eala continued her magical run at the Miami Open, stunning fifth-seeded Madison Keys with a decisive 6-4, 6-2 victory. This impressive win follows her second-round triumph over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, marking a truly remarkable tournament for the young Filipina.

"I am just in disbelief," Eala shared with Tennis Channel, reflecting on her victory. "I knew I could win from the start, but the chances were low. I think my belief and the trust I had in myself is what pushed me through."

Trained at the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca since the age of 13, Eala demonstrated remarkable resilience, overcoming a brief medical timeout for a leg injury to dominate the baseline against Keys, a recent Indian Wells semi-finalist.

Next up for the undefeated Eala is a challenging encounter with Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa.

Swiatek Marches On

World number one and reigning champion Iga Swiatek showed her characteristic tenacity, battling past Belgian 27th seed Elise Mertens 7-6(2), 6-1. This victory makes Swiatek the first player to reach the last 16 of a WTA 1000 event in 25 consecutive appearances, a testament to her remarkable consistency.

Despite a mid-match wobble that saw Mertens level the first set at 5-5, Swiatek regained control, dominating the tiebreaker and cruising through the second set.

"I'm happy that I got my level up in the tiebreaker," Swiatek commented. "In the second set, I felt like I was playing with big confidence. Overall, I’m happy with how I worked through some issues."

Swiatek now faces Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, fresh off her quarter-final run in Indian Wells.

Djokovic Makes History

Novak Djokovic further cemented his status as a tennis legend, securing a 6-1, 7-6(1) victory against Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli. This win marks Djokovic's 411th ATP Masters 1000 level match win, surpassing Rafael Nadal for the most in history. The Serbian, a six-time Miami Open champion, is now pursuing a record seventh title.

Djokovic’s next opponent is Italian 15th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who upset Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in a thrilling three-set match.

Other Notable Results

Mirra Andreeva's hopes for a "Sunshine Double" were dashed by American Amanda Anisimova, while Emma Raducanu advanced after McCartney Kessler retired due to injury. Jessica Pegula fought back to defeat Anna Kalinskaya, and Grigor Dimitrov, last year's finalist, edged out Khachanov in a tense three-setter. Sebastian Korda caused a stir by defeating ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, while Casper Ruud continued his strong form with a straight-sets victory.