“I needed to adjust, and I’m happy that I picked the right moments at the end to play more aggressively,” said Iga Swiatek after beating Elina Svitolina in the fourth round of the Miami Open. The Pole has already made several deep runs in the 2025 season but has yet to add a title to her tally this year. However, she is poised to reverse her fate on the South Side and will now look to stomp over another formidable challenge against a relative newcomer on the Masters main draw. The former World No. 1 is scheduled to lock horns with Alexandra Eala on Wednesday, March 26, in the quarterfinal. The likely outcome? Let’s dive in to go through the details.
Swiatek vs Eala: Preview
Second seed Swiatek will enter the last eight on the back of a Round of 16 victory over Elina Svitolina. The Polish star suffered resistance in the first set but ultimately capped the opener with a tiebreaker win. However, the second set was recorded as a complete lopsided affair as she conceded just three games to conclude the Ukrainian player’s challenge in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-3. Swiatek received a bye in the first round and downed Caroline Garcia and Elise Mertens in her previous encounters en route to booking a quarterfinal date against Eala.
Meanwhile, the tournament sensation Eala made her way into the last eight after Spaniard Paula Badosa withdrew from the fourth round showcase due to injury concerns. She commenced her Miami run by overpowering Katie Volynets, Jelena Ostapenko, and newly minted Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the previous rounds. The Filipino player has yet to drop a set at the Masters 1000 event.
Swiatek vs Eala: Head-to-Head
Both players have never crossed paths on the WTA and, as a result, their head-to-head tally is deadlocked at 0-0. The duo’s upcoming quarterfinal showcase at Miami Masters will mark their maiden meeting on the tour.
Prediction: Swiatek to win in straight sets
Iga Swiatek’s 2025 season has been a mixed bag so far. The Pole started the year strong in Melbourne, but unfortunately failed to add a maiden Australian Open title to her resume after losing to eventual champion Madison Keys in the last four. Despite shifting her focus to the Middle East swing, the World No. 2 couldn’t defend her title in Doha after finishing as a semifinalist at the Qatar Open. She later bowed out to teen tornado Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinal of the Dubai Championship and fell short of her title defense yet again in Indian Wells against the young Russian rival.
However, with a 21-5 win-loss record for this season, meddling with Swiatek is an absolute task. Established as one of the strongest forces on the tour, the Pole flaunts an aggressive baseline-centric game style, which is characterized by a topspin forehand. A formidable challenge for many, but her quarterfinal opponent is boasting a newfound form of her own.
Before the Miami Open, Eala did ot register a single win on the WTA main draw. The Filipino sensation was unable to move past the qualifying stage at the Australian Open and the Indian Wells Masters, and her best result for the season came at the Canberra Challenger, where she finished semifinalist. The 19-year-old will now mark her first tour-level quarterfinal appearance in Miami, but has previously reached eight finals on the ITF circuit, winning five titles on hardcourts.
Regardless, Iga Swiatek will be the firm favorite. Seeing as she holds a superior record on this stage and boasts a better experience as a full-time touring player, their quarterfinal match should see the World No. 2 advance without much trouble.
The post Miami Open 2025: Iga Swiatek vs Alexandra Eala; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction appeared first on EssentiallySports.