Eala resumes quest to recover ranking points in Miami Open clash vs Swiatek slayer Linette

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 19: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines serves to Laura Siegemund of Germany on Day 3 of the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Matthew Stockman / Getty Images / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Three more wins separate Alex Eala and her bid of regaining the 390-point deduction at the Miami Open for a chance to either retain her spot inside the Top 30 or move closer to the elite Top 20 of the world’s best.

And she’s out to check another one off her list when she figures in a rematch with Polish veteran Magda Linette in Round of 32 Sunday at the Grandstand of the Hard Rock Stadium, tentatively set 3:50 a.m. (Manila time).

The match could be pushed to Sunday morning depending on the matches scheduled prior but it definitely looms a fiery one after both players escaped with three-setter victories in Round 2.

Like the WTA No. 29 Eala, the 50th-ranked Linette will march into the battlepit with an all-time high morale after slaying her compatriot and good friend Iga Swiatek (World No. 3) in Round 2, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

It’s the biggest upset in the star-studded 128-player field of the 1000-level tour, showing the exit doors to the six-time Grand Slam champion right off the bat and denying her a trilogy with the 20-year-old Filipina.

Eala, with a first-round bye, carved out a 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-3 Round of 64 win against No. 53 Laura Siegemund of Germany – surviving the longest match of her rising pro career in three hours and two minutes.

Linette, 34, has some ax to grind on Eala after a 6-3, 6-2 defeat in the quarterfinals of the WTA250 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this year.

That was Linette’s first scar against Eala after going 2-0 in their first two encounters in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open, 7-6(6-4), 6-1, and the 2025 Nottingham Open, 6-4 6-3.

“She’s improved so much. I played her at the beginning of the year, so I know what I'm up against and I will just try to do my best again and I know it's going to be a tough match,” said Linette.

"I have so much respect for her game so I'm ready. I'm playing well and I'm healthy so anything can happen."

Eala is all aware of the Linette’s caliber and promises to be recharged for an all-out duel, despite a marathon win in Round 2 in a bid to move closer to replicating her Final Four feat last year from being a mere wildcard qualifier.

“I am as fresh as a flower,” she vowed. “I think I'm doing a good job of keeping that balance of being hungry and staying happy and still working hard.”

The only way for Eala, who’s No. 31 seed this time around in the main draw, to regain the 390 points she lost upon the expiration of the said ranking points this week is to get once more into the Final Four, where either from her good pal and No. 4 Coco Gauff or No. 6 Amanda Anisimova of the United States is projected to be waiting barring upsets.

As of now, Eala in two rounds has already trimmed 110 points of those deductions entering a tougher path against the likes of eitherNo. 14 Karolina Muchova of Czechia or No. 16 Clara Tauson of Denmark (Round 4), No. 9 Victoria Mboko of Canada or No. 10 Mirra Andreeva of Russia (quarterfinals) just to get in the semis – should she take care of business against Linette.

Otherwise, projections have Eala going down to the border of Top 50. She’s at No. 48 now according to the WTA Live rankings after the deduction of the 390 points albeit the official update will still reflect next week.