Linette praises Eala before Miami Open clash

POLISH netter Magda Linette gave props to Filipino tennis ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala ahead of their round of 32 clash at the Miami Open early Sunday in Manila.

Having faced Eala thrice already and winning two against the world No. 29, world No. 50 Linette said Eala has grown leaps and bounds.

“I mean she improved so much,” said Linette of Eala following her round of 64 upset of fellow Polish netter and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek on Friday.

“I played her at the beginning of the year, so I know what I’m up against, and I will just try to do my best again, and I know it’s going to be a tough match.

“I have so much respect for her game so I’m ready. I’m playing well, and I’m healthy so anything can happen.”

Linette first took on Eala in February 2024, winning their Abu Dhabi Open round of 32 clash, 7-6(4), 6-1.

The 34-year-old repeated over the 20-year-old in June 2025, emerging on top with a 6-4, 6-3 win in their Nottingham Open round of 32 encounter.

Eala finally defeated Linette last January in their ASB Classic quarterfinals match, 6-3, 6-2.

Meanwhile, Eala runs in 19th place in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Singles Race live rankings on Saturday.

Eala is 24th in the official race rankings with 591 points, but 19th in the live race because it already reflects her net gain of 65 points from her Miami Open round of 64 win last Friday.

The top eight in the Singles Race qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, slated from Nov. 1 to 8.

The ninth and 10th in the rankings are listed as reserves, replacing any player from the top eight who can’t play due to injury or any other reasons.

Elena Rybakina ruled last year’s event, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final, 6–3, 7–6 (7–0).

The Singles Race is not the same as the Singles Rankings.

The Singles Race only accumulates players’ points from the current season (2026 in this case), while the Singles Rankings accumulate players’ points over the last 12 months.

Hence, the Singles Race ranking shows fewer player points than the official Singles Rankings.

Eala has a lot of catching up to do to make the top eight.

Buoyed by her Australian Open conquest, world No. 2 Rybakina leads the singles race with 3,103 points at press time on Saturday.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka runs second with 2,865 points followed by Elina Svitolina with 2,255, Jessica Pegula with 2,200 and Victoria Mboko with 1,777.

Karolina Muchova is sixth with 1,620 points; Mirra Andreeva runs seventh with 1,313, as Coco Gauff rounds out the top eight with 1,110 — 454 points higher than Eala’s.

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