Miami: Filipino wild card Alexandra Eala got a free ride into the Miami Open quarterfinals following the withdrawal of No. 10 seed Paula Badosa.
According to Philippines News Agency, World No. 140 Eala, competing in her sixth WTA 1000 event, was scheduled to meet Badosa in the fourth round but the Spaniard withdrew due to a lower back injury. Eala, the 2022 junior US Open champion, had previously pulled off a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 5 seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys. Meanwhile, Badosa had advanced by defeating No. 20 seed Clara Tuason, 6-3, 7-6 (3), in the round of 16.
Eala is set to face No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland in the quarterfinals, after Swiatek dispatched No. 22 seed Elina Svitolina with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win. Swiatek will be the third Grand Slam singles champion that Eala will encounter in the tournament. Eala previously overcame 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 7-6 (2), 7-5, in the second round.
In other matches, Magda Linette of Poland ousted No. 3 seed Coco Gauff of the United States, 6-4, 6-4, to secure a quarterfinal spot. Also advancing were No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated No. 14 seed Danielle Collins of the US, 6-4, 6-4; No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula of the US, who overcame No. 23 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-3; Emma Raducanu of Great Britain, who triumphed over 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 secured a 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over Ashlyn Kruger of the US.
