Alex Eala rues Paula Badosa injury as Miami Open run continues

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala literally did not break a sweat in securing a spot in the Miami Open quarterfinals on Tuesday (Manila time).

Eala was handed a place in the final eight after Spain’s Paula Badosa was forced to withdraw from their fourth-round match due to a lower back injury.

But if Eala had her way, she would have wanted a different path on her march to her maiden quarters appearance in a WTA1000 event.

READ: Alex Eala advances to Miami Open quarters after Paula Badosa withdraws

“Not the way I would want to move on to my first WTA1000 QF. I wish Paula a speedy recovery. Looking forward to my match on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time),” the Filipino tennis sensation wrote on Instagram.

The 19-year-old Eala is playing her best tennis in her young career in the Miami Open.

Eala knocked off 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 7-6 (2), 7-5, on Saturday before taking down Australian Open winner Madison Keys of the United States, 6-4, 6-2, on Monday to advance to the Round of 16.

READ: Emotional Alex Eala credits family for rise up WTA ranks

“I just wanted to thank you all for the support, the atmosphere. These past few days have been completely amazing. It’s crazy to think that I made my main draw debut here in 2021 and now I moved to the quarterfinals. It’s such a full circle moment and I hope all you guys can all support and come along on the journey,” she said in a video posted by the WTA on Tuesday.

Eala, expected to leap from her current 140th WTA rank, hopes to continue her dream run on Wednesday when she takes on the winner between world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland and No. 22 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.