Eala has 'no regrets' as dream run ends
MIAMI GARDENS, United States — Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala's remarkable run at the Miami Open came to a brave end with a three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday. In an enthralling battle over two hours and 24 minutes, the fourth-seeded American Pegula emerged with a 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3 win to seal a place in Saturday's final against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka blasted her way into the final with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Italy's Jasmine Paolini. The 19-year-old Eala, ranked 140th in the world, had only two WTA main draw victories to her name before arriving in Miami. She proceeded to beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. The lowest-ranked semifinalist in the tournament's history, Eala seriously threatened to go one step further with another accomplished and effervescent display. The tide looked to have turned against her when Pegula broke to go 3-1 up in the second set, but Eala broke back and her fist pump and look of determination was a sign of things to come. Eala broke Pegula three times in the set and was broken twice herself but crucially was able to hold when serving for the set at 6-5. Both players protected their serve better in the deciding set, but Eala's forehand let her down when the American broke to go 5-3 up, and she served out for a victory that brought her visible relief. "Of course, there is disappointment right after the match," said Eala. "But there are just so many times in tennis where you have to dig through the dirt to look for the positive, and I'm just enjoying [it] because there is so much positive around me, and I don't know how many times that happens," she added. Playing with a strapped thigh from the outset, Eala turned her ankle midway through the second set but said she had not been impacted by the injury. "I literally gave everything I had, I'm half tape, I'm like a mummy. I did everything, and I have no regrets," she said. "To have a week like this, the stars need to align, and they did this week, and hopefully, I can keep that up — that is my goal now, to keep this up," she said. Pegula said it had been difficult to play an opponent like Eala. "I let her back in the match at 3-1 up (second set), and she just started ripping her balls, going for her shots, and you just have to weather the storm with people like that. She competes really well," said the American. Sabalenka needed just 71 minutes to wrap up her win against the sixth seed Paolini. The Belarusian, beaten in the Indian Wells final earlier this month by Mirra Andreeva, will appear in the Miami final for the first time in her career.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
MIAMI GARDENS, United States — Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala's remarkable run at the Miami Open came to a brave end with a three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday.
In an enthralling battle over two hours and 24 minutes, the fourth-seeded American Pegula emerged with a 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3 win to seal a place in Saturday's final against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka blasted her way into the final with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Italy's Jasmine Paolini.
The 19-year-old Eala, ranked 140th in the world, had only two WTA main draw victories to her name before arriving in Miami.
She proceeded to beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
The lowest-ranked semifinalist in the tournament's history, Eala seriously threatened to go one step further with another accomplished and effervescent display.
The tide looked to have turned against her when Pegula broke to go 3-1 up in the second set, but Eala broke back and her fist pump and look of determination was a sign of things to come.
Eala broke Pegula three times in the set and was broken twice herself but crucially was able to hold when serving for the set at 6-5.
Both players protected their serve better in the deciding set, but Eala's forehand let her down when the American broke to go 5-3 up, and she served out for a victory that brought her visible relief.
"Of course, there is disappointment right after the match," said Eala.
"But there are just so many times in tennis where you have to dig through the dirt to look for the positive, and I'm just enjoying [it] because there is so much positive around me, and I don't know how many times that happens," she added.
Playing with a strapped thigh from the outset, Eala turned her ankle midway through the second set but said she had not been impacted by the injury.
"I literally gave everything I had, I'm half tape, I'm like a mummy. I did everything, and I have no regrets," she said.
"To have a week like this, the stars need to align, and they did this week, and hopefully, I can keep that up — that is my goal now, to keep this up," she said.
Pegula said it had been difficult to play an opponent like Eala.
"I let her back in the match at 3-1 up (second set), and she just started ripping her balls, going for her shots, and you just have to weather the storm with people like that. She competes really well," said the American.
Sabalenka needed just 71 minutes to wrap up her win against the sixth seed Paolini.
The Belarusian, beaten in the Indian Wells final earlier this month by Mirra Andreeva, will appear in the Miami final for the first time in her career.
