‘Deja vu’: Alex Eala relishes Miami Open return a year after breakthrough run

After Alexandra “Alex” Eala secured a hard-fought Round of 64 victory over Laura Siegemund in a match that lasted more than three hours, the Filipina standout wrote “Deja vu” on the courtside camera.

It was a fitting word, as Eala returned to the very tournament where she first rose to prominence on the international stage.

“It means the world to me, and it says a lot about my progress and how I’ve developed as a player and as a person,” Eala said in her post-match interview.

“I came into Miami last year as a wildcard, and now I’m in the third round again. I’m really, really happy, especially being able to compete at this level today against an amazing fighter.”

 

 

 

 

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Reflecting on what has changed since her breakthrough run, Eala emphasized the importance of maintaining balance, particularly between the mental and physical aspects of her game.

“I’m really pleased with how I’m handling everything as a whole,” she said. “A lot of things have changed for me, especially this year and this season, so I think I’m doing a good job of staying hungry, staying happy, and continuing to work hard.”

Eala will next face Magda Linette in the Round of 32.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News