World No. 1 Iga Swiatek defeated Filipina tennis player Alex Eala in a three-set thriller, Wednesday, April 24, during the second round of the 2025 Madrid Open in Spain.
The match ended with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 scoreline in favor of Swiatek, who leaned on her clay-court experience to outlast the rising 19-year-old.
Swiatek and Eala met for the second time on tour, with the Polish star again emerging victorious.
The match took place at the Caja Mágica, Madrid’s premier tennis venue for the ATP and WTA 1000 tournaments.
Swiatek dominated the first set, but Eala responded with aggressive returns and precise groundstrokes to take the second.
Swiatek recovered in the third, using her speed and footwork to regain control.
Eala, ranked 148th in the WTA, gained entry through qualifiers.
She broke Swiatek twice in the second set, showing improved court awareness and stamina.
Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, adjusted her pace in the final set, using longer rallies to wear down Eala.
The match drew attention from international tennis analysts, highlighting Eala’s potential despite the loss.
The Philippine bet matched Swiatek’s intensity and extended several rallies, forcing the world No. 1 into unforced errors.
The match lasted over two hours, drawing applause from Madrid spectators who witnessed one of the tournament’s closest second-round contests.
Organizers scheduled the match as part of the women’s singles second-round draw, matching Eala’s rapid rise with Swiatek’s seasoned clay-court strategy.
While Eala did not move forward, her performance signaled progress in her WTA journey, showing readiness for tougher matchups in future tournaments.
As of the match date, Alex Eala is ranked 148th in the WTA rankings. She continues to climb the ranks as she gains more experience in top-tier tournaments.
Iga Swiatek will move on to the third round of the Madrid Open. She remains one of the tournament favorites, especially on clay.
Alex Eala earned her place in the main draw by winning her matches in the qualifying rounds. This gave her the opportunity to compete against higher-ranked players like Swiatek.
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