Tennis: Alex Eala survives three-hour test, overcomes Laura Siegemund at 2026 Miami Open

The Philippines' tennis star Alex Eala needed more than three hours Thursday (19 March) to overcome Germany’s Laura Siegemund during the round of 64 at the 2026 Miami Open in Miami, Florida.

In the end, the 20-year-old rising star, who made an epic semi-final run here a year ago, was the victor, 6(6)–7, 6–3, 6–3.

Eala came out firing, storming to a 3–0 lead before Siegemund dug into a marathon more than 10-minute fourth game that finally halted the Filipina’s run.

From there, the momentum shifted as Siegemund levelled the set at three games all.

The closing stretch of the opening set delivered high drama. Eala twice forced Siegemund to hold her serve to stay in the set. The German did, forcing a tie-break. There, Siegemund was steady in key moments, saving set point before sealing the first set with a serve to the body of Eala that jammed her.

Siegemund held to open the second set, but after holding her first service game, Eala broke in the third game. From there, it was a straightforward affair with Eala taking the second off that early break.

It looked like it could be more of the same in the third as Eala broke early again to go up 2–0, but she couldn’t convert as Siegemund broke back for 2–1. The back-and-forth affair continued with a long fourth game of the set that saw Eala break again, after needing four chances to do so.

Leading 3–1, Eala consolidated the break to bring her two games away from the match.

The pressure was on Siegemund as she served at 2–5, needing to hold to stay in the contest. Eala had the advantage at 0–30 before the pair traded shots into the net that gave the Philippine star two match points.

Siegemund saved both and eventually held for 3–5, putting the match on the serve of Eala, who held for the win.

Next up in Miami, she’ll face the winner of the match-up between Magda Linette and Iga Swiatek.

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