Alex Eala's 2026 season is shaping up to be one of steady climbs and hard-earned wins.
Fresh off another deep run at a major WTA 1000 tournament, the Filipina tennis standout once again proved she can hold her own on one of the sport's biggest stages after advancing to the Round of 16 at the Miami Open.
Read: Meet Alex Eala: Pinay tennis player and history-maker at 2025 Miami Open
ALEX EALA AT THE 2026 MIAMI OPEN
Alex's run at the 2026 Miami Open concluded in the Round of 16, where she faced world No. 14 Karolína Muchová.
According to rundowns, Karolína delivered a dominant performance, defeating Alex in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, with a mix of precision shot-making and tactical variety that kept the Filipina off rhythm throughout the match.
Despite the loss, reaching this stage of the tournament comes with a significant reward.
According to the WTA, those who reach the Round of 16, like Alex, earn USD105,720 (around PHP6.2 million) in prize money—another strong addition to her earnings this season.
Her path to the Round of 16 included wins over Germany's Laura Siegemund and Poland's Magda Linette, showcasing her ability to navigate a competitive draw before running into one of the tour's most in-form players.
This year's result follows Alex's breakout performance at the 2025 Miami Open, where she made a Cinderella run to the semifinals.
She ultimately fell to Jessica Pegula in a hard-fought match that stretched past midnight.
Jessica was reportedly relieved after edging out the Filipino tennis sensation in a thrilling three-set battle, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3.
Interestingly, Alex's Miami Open earnings mirror her recent finish at the 2026 Indian Wells Open.
Just weeks prior, she also reached the Round of 16 in the prestigious tournament, taking home USD105,720 (approximately PHP6.2 million) for her singles run.
Back-to-back Round of 16 finishes at two of the biggest events outside the Grand Slams signal a level of consistency that's becoming increasingly synonymous with her game. Congrats, Alex!
This article originally appeared on Preview.ph. Minor edits have been made by the PEP.ph editors.
READ MORE: