Teenage wildcard Alexandra Eala 'in complete disbelief' after stunning Iga Swiatek in Miami Open quarter-finals

Less than two years after being photographed at her graduation from the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy alongside Iga Swiatek, Miami Open wildcard Alexandra Eala celebrated a win over the Polish five-time Grand Slam champion. The Filipina's straight-sets victory over the tournament's second seed left her "in complete disbelief", as she became just the third wildcard to reach the WTA event's last four.

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Miami Open wildcard Alexandra Eala was "in complete disbelief" after knocking out five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets to reach the semi-finals.

The 19-year-old secured her 6-2 7-5 quarter-final victory over the second seed in one hour and 41 minutes, having already seen off reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko earlier in the week.

Eala broke her Polish opponent's serve four times in each set, with Swiatek committing an uncharacteristic 32 unforced errors, compared with the Filipina's 12.

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And the victor was verging on speechless in her post-match on-court interview.

"I don't know what to say," said Eala. "I'm in complete disbelief right now and I'm on cloud nine. So thank you everybody who came to watch, and thanks to everyone who's watching from home."

Eala graduated from the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy less than two years ago, pictured alongside the Spanish tennis icon and Swiatek in one of her graduation photographs.

And while Eala insisted that she did not feel like a different individual since the picture was taken, her sudden rise has catapulted her to unexpected new heights, including from world No. 140 to comfortably inside the top 100.

"It's so surreal, because I feel like I'm the exact same person that I was in that photo. But of course, circumstances have changed and I'm just so happy and so blessed to be able to compete with such a player on this stage."

Eala has become just the third female wildcard to reach the Miami semi-finals, having never competitively faced a player inside the WTA's top 20.

But now she can boast two victories over top 10 opponents, putting her unlikely win down to refusing to pass up any chances against the four-time French Open champion.

"I don't know. My coach told me to run, to go for every ball, take all the opportunities I can, because a five-time Grand Slam champion is not going to give you the win.

"[This day] is forever in my heart."

Eala will face the winner of Emma Raducanu and Jessica Pegula in the last four, with the Brit set to face the American later on Wednesday.

Fils fights back to down Zverev

Arthur Fils came from a set down to knock out top seed Alexander Zverev and set up a quarter-final meeting with Jakub Mensik.

The 20-year-old Frenchman needed exactly two hours to beat the German 3-6 6-3 6-4 in a hard-fought contest, which saw just two breaks of serve in the opening two sets.

Fils reached the last eight of Indian Wells earlier in March, his first quarter-final appearance at an ATP Masters 1000 event, and has immediately backed that up with his second.

Arthur Fils celebrates after beating Alexander Zverev in Miami

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Despite receiving treatment for a back issue during his encounter with Zverev on Wednesday, Fils was pleased that he could eventually overcome the world No. 2.

"I was feeling not great in the rallies. I’ve had a little problem in my back since I was young, so sometimes it hurts me a little bit," explained Fils via ATP.

"I had to find a rhythm, [be] more aggressive and come into the court to play my game and not let him play, because when you let him play, he is one of the best tennis players in the world. I’m really happy about the way I did it."

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