By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Filipino wild card Alexandra Eala got a free ride into the Miami Open quarterfinals following the withdrawal of No. 10 Paula Badosa.
World No. 140 Eala, competing in her sixth WTA 1000 event, was scheduled to meet Badosa in the fourth round Tuesday (Philippine time) but the Spaniard withdrew due to a lower back injury.
Eala, the 2022 junior US Open champion, pulled off a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 5 seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys, while Badosa prevailed over No. 20 seed Clara Tuason, 6-3, 7-6 (3), in the round of 16 on Sunday.
Eala will be up against No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland, who defeated No. 22 seed Elina Svitolina, 7-6 (5), 6-3
Swiatek will be the third Grand Slam singles champion that Eala will meet in the tournament. She defeated 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 7-6 (2), 7-5, in the second round.
Meanwhile, Magda Linette of Poland ousted No. 3 seed Coco Gauff of the United States, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals.
Also advancing were No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who beat No. 14 seed Danielle Collins of the US, 6-4, 6-4; No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula of the US, who beat No. 23 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-3; Emma Raducanu of Great Britain, who conquered Amanda Anisimova of the US, 6-1, 6-3; No. 6 Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who rallied past Naomi Osaka of Japan, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; and No. 9 Qinwen Zheng of China, who scored a 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over Ashlyn Kruger of the US. (PNA)
