By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA Filipina ace Alex Eala finally savored the feeling of winning a match in a major Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament. It was heaven. So sweet. Playing her best game of the year, Eala made heads turn after pulling off a stunning 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over Katie Volynets in the opening round of the 2025 Miami Open on Wednesday, March 19 (early Thursday, Philippine time) in Florida. The 19-year-old Eala, who earned one of the precious seven wildcard berths in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA1000) event, needed almost two hours to wrap up the match that was highlighted by a sequence of brilliance that saw her save two break points. But it was all worth her time and effort as her victim is currently ranked at world No. 73 and she is only ranked No. 140. And it was her first time to triumph in the main draw round of the tournament. Eala, however, is expected to have her hands full in her second round match as she arranged a meeting with 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, who earned an opening round bye. Though she is now noted as a doubles specialist with her ranking at No. 5, the 27-year-old Ostepenko holds a ranking of No. 25 in the singles. Last February, she made it to the finals of the WTA Qatar Open, beating fancied rivals like Jasmine Paolini, Ons Jabeur and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek before bowing to American Amanda Anisimova.