Mar 27, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Jessica Pegula (USA)(L) shakes hands with Alexandra Eala (PHL)(R) at the net after their women's singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.

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Jessica Pegula Survives Big Scare vs Giant Killer Alexandra Eala to Reach Miami Open 2025 Final

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka awaits her in the final.

Mar 27, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Jessica Pegula (USA)(L) shakes hands with Alexandra Eala (PHL)(R) at the net after their women's singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.

Jessica Pegula ended the dream fortnight of Alexandra Eala in the 2025 Miami Open semifinal, beating her 7-6(3) 5-7 6-3. It was a week that saw the Filipino wildcard make all sorts of headlines. Backed by her home crowd, Pegula booked a spot in her first ever Miami Open final.

Having already withstood a stern challenge from a surging Emma Raducanu, Jessica Pegula had to do the same against Eala. The World No. 140 was on a roll – beating three Grand Slam champions in the form of Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek back-to-back. Nonetheless, the 31-year-old made her experience count in the big moments.

Despite a determined fightback and some counter-attacking play that the tennis gods will be proud of, the teenager couldn’t sustain her game in the deciding set.

Jessica Pegula and Alexandra Eala Trade Blows in Opening Two Sets

“That’s some start,” exclaimed the commentator as Alexandra Eala raced off the blocks with an immaculate backhand pass in the very first point. Opting for an aggressive return position, she had her chances in the first set. But Pegula managed to fend off the 19-year-old in an opening set tiebreaker. Eala found the net cord on multiple occasions, handing the initiative to her higher ranked opponent.

A medical timeout for Eala meant that the semifinal bout hung by a thread. However, the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate showed her resilience by capturing the second set 7-5. The two players traded multiple breaks, before Eala found herself going from serving to stay in the set to serving for the set. After Pegula saved a set point, the southpaw from the Philippines tied the match at one set all.

World No. 4 Pegula Shows Experience in Miami Marathon

With the clock ticking past midnight, Pegula and Eala were still battling it out in the deciding set. They were exchanging blows, until the American broke serve in the eighth game to take control of the match. Despite Eala’s best efforts wherein she saved a match point, Pegula came through this late night marathon in 2 hours and 26 minutes.

“I let her back in the match at 3-1 up [second set] and she just started ripping her balls, going for her shots. You just have to weather the storm with people like that,” Pegula spoke after the exhausting battle. “She competes really well,” the American lauded. Eala, who had only two WTA main draw wins before this tournament, left the court to some rapturous applause.

WATCH: The crowd cheers for Alex Eala as she ends her #MiamiOpen journey to American Jessica Pegula in the semifinal. | 🎥: WTA/Facebook

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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 28, 2025

Jessica Pegula now faces the uphill challenge of facing Aruna Sabalenka – whom she has beaten only twice in eight attempts. In a rematch of the 2024 US Open final, who will take home the Miami crown?

Alexandra Eala

Aryna Sabalenka

Jessica Pegula

Madison Keys

Miami Open

WTA

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.