Alex Eala stays luckless vs Czech foes as Miami Open run ends

MANILA, Philippines – Call it a curse or mere coincidence, but Alex Eala simply has had no success against players from the Czech Republic.

Eala has yet to beat a Czech player on the WTA Tour as her run in the Miami Open ended at the hands of world No. 14 Karolina Muchova following a 6-0, 6-2 loss in the round of 16 at the Grandstand of the Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, March 23 (Tuesday, March 24, Manila time).

The loss prevented the 20-year-old Filipina from replicating her 2025 run to the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tournament as she fell to 0-13 in matches against Czech opponents since she turned professional in 2020. 

It was Eala’s third loss of the year against a Czech player after falling to Tereza Valentova in the round of 64 of the Qatar Open and to Linda Noskova in the round of 16 of the Indian Wells Open earlier this March.

Eala’s other Czech tormentors include Marketa Vondrousova, Barbora Krejcikova, Linda Fruhvirtova, Marie Bouzkova, Katerina Siniakova, Tereza Martincova, Gabriela Knutson, and Anastasia Zarycka. 

Muchova showed why she ruled in Qatar just a month ago as she outmatched Eala from start to finish, wrapping up the match in just one hour.

A French Open finalist, Muchova particularly dominated in the first set, which she won in only 22 minutes after allowing Eala to score just six points. 

Muchova then clinched the first four games of the second set, threatening to deal Eala her first double bagel defeat in four years before the Filipina finally got herself on the board by taking two of the next three games.

But that only delayed what seemed like the inevitable, with Muchova holding serve in the eighth game and sealing the swift victory with her 20th winner to reach the Miami quarterfinals for the first time in her career.

“It felt pretty good. You get nervous here and there when it’s going, I don’t want to say easy, but when the score is in your favor, it’s like you have to be cautious. A little bit nervous but obviously, I’m super happy to be here in the quarters. It’s incredible,” said Muchova. 

Errors doomed Eala as she committed 32 in total (13 unforced and 19 forced) while tallying just seven winners.

With the loss, Eala — who sits at a career-high No. 29 in the WTA rankings — is expected to endure a significant slide as she covered just 120 points of the 390 points she gained when she made the final four in Miami last year.

In the live rankings, Eala has fallen to No. 45.

Still, it was a solid run for Eala as she made the fourth round of a third straight WTA 1000 tournament after advancing to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships in February and the round of 16 in Indian Wells. 

Receiving a first-round bye as the 31st seed in Miami, Eala outlasted Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the round of 64 then overcame Poland’s Magda Linette in the round of 32. – Rappler.com