Alexandra Eala reveals what Iga Swiatek said to her when they first met in 2023, ‘it’s such a good story’

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Alexandra Eala continues to make headlines in 2025, as she enjoys a breakthrough year on the WTA Tour.

The 19-year-old embarked on a legendary run to the semi-finals of the Miami Open earlier this year, knocking out three former Grand Slam champions on her way to the last four.

Eala beat Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and Iga Swiatek in the Sunshine State before narrowly coming up short against Jessica Pegula in the semis.

Carrying that momentum through to her next WTA 1000 tournament, Eala knocked out Viktoriya Tomova in the first round of the Madrid Open.

The Filipino star will take on Swiatek in a Miami rematch in the second round, as she now reveals what the Pole said to her when they first met two years ago.

Iga Swiatek told Alexandra Eala she’d ‘see her on tour’ when they met for the first time in 2023

Speaking on the Madrid Open’s YouTube channel, Eala recalled what the five-time Major champion told her when they met for the first time.

“She was the guest speaker in our graduation when I graduated from high school,” said Eala.

“I was super excited, it’s such a good story because when I walked up to the podium, took the picture or whatever, she said, ‘Oh, I’ll see you on tour.’

“I was like ‘Oh, she knows me!’

“She just came off winning Roland Garros or something, and my friends and I were all wondering a couple of months before who would be the guest speaker because maybe some years before we wouldn’t be happy with who came, but then we were super excited to find out it was her.”

Eala had to wait two years for her first career meeting against the world number two, as she now explains how she felt ahead of their Miami Open quarterfinal match.

“I feel like the warm-up before is such an overlooked moment, but [there is] so much intensity, and so many feelings rushing in, and a lot of thoughts,” she said.

“But when you look up to the screen and see my name next to hers it becomes real, and makes you lock in really.

“Thankfully, I pulled it off.”

In straight sets, Eala beat Swiatek to advance to the last four, securing her best-ever result on the WTA Tour.

Graduating in 2023, Eala was also congratulated by another of her idols, Rafael Nadal, whose academy she has trained at for several years.

The world number 72 went on to explain just how ‘grateful’ she is to have spent time with the Spanish star.

“Just to be able to interact with him, if you had told me ten years ago that I would be doing that, I wouldn’t believe you,” said Eala.

“That’s just another thing for me to be grateful for.”

Eala then shared how the Spaniard has been getting on since Nadal retired from tennis last year.

“I think he seems to be enjoying his retirement, with his son, his wife, his little family that is soon to get bigger,” she said.

What was Alexandra Eala’s record at the Madrid Open before 2025?

Prior to this year’s Miami Open, Eala had won just one match at the WTA 1000 level.

Appearing at the 2023 and 2024 Madrid Open tournaments, Eala won one and lost two of her three matches on the Spanish clay.

• 2024 Madrid Open 2R – Alexandra Eala lost to Sorana Cirstea, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6
• 2024 Madrid Open 1R – Alexandra Eala beat Lesia Tsurenko, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
• 2023 Madrid Open 1R – Alexandra Eala lost to Tatjana Maria, 1-6, 1-6

Her win over Bulgaria’s Tomova in the first round of this year’s tournament saw her record improve to 2-2.

Eala now sits at 70th in the ‘Live WTA rankings’ and is the second-highest-ranked teenager in women’s tennis, behind Russia’s Mirra Andreeva.

Only time will tell if Eala can begin to close the gap on Andreeva, but it’ll certainly be something to look out for.

Eala will return to action to take on Swiatek in the second round of the Madrid Open on Thursday, April 24.