Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates a point won against Jessica Pegula during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.  Al Bello, Getty Images/AFP 

MANILA -- Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has no regrets after exiting the Miami Open in the semifinals, saying she "gave everything I had" against world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in their match.

Eala had already written tennis history for the Philippines by making it to the last four of the WTA1000 tournament -- a run that saw her beat a trifecta of Grand Slam champions in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek.

She finally ran out of steam against Pegula, but not before giving the American a scare and dragging her all the way to a deciding set on Friday morning (Manila time) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Pegula was stronger in the closing stretch, claiming a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3 win after two hours and 26 minutes.

READ: Dream run ends for Alex Eala with loss to Pegula in Miami Open semis

"Of course, I'm disappointed," said Eala in the mixed zone after her match, per a report from the Miami Open's official website. "But there's so many times in tennis where you have to dig out the dirt to look for the positive."

"And now, I'm enjoying it, because there's so much positive around me," she added. "I don't know how many times that has happened."

"I'm just lucky to have been able to experience these two weeks."

Eala entered the tournament as a wild card with a rank of No. 140. She made it to the main draw after beating American Katie Volynets, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

What followed was a series of upsets over opponents much higher up the WTA rankings. Eala ousted former French Open champion and world No. 25 Ostapenko in the second round, then stunned reigning Australian Open champion and world. No. 5 Keys in the third round.

After receiving a walkover to the quarterfinals when world No. 11 Paula Badosa of Spain pulled out due to injury, Eala had an opportunity to face one of her idols in world No. 2 Swiatek -- and she rose to the occasion in magnificent fashion. She came away with a 6-2, 7-5 result against Swiatek to become the lowest-seeded player to reach the semis of the Miami Open.

She may have fallen short against Pegula but Eala can take pride in yet another brave performance against a higher-ranked foe.

"The match I played was amazing and she played amazing," said Eala, who had to have her left ankle re-taped after turning it early in the second set.

"I definitely had my chances and I definitely have things that I could've done better but I literally gave everything I had," she added. "As you can see, I'm taped up like a mummy."

Eala will not leave Miami empty-handed: she is set to reach a new career-high in the WTA rankings at No. 75, while also earning $332,160 in prize money for making it to the semis -- the biggest purse of her career.

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