MIAMI, Florida — This is why Filipina rising star Alexandra 'Alex' Eala continues to draw crowds, despite her astonishing climb from 140th to 31st in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA)'s world rankings, the 20-year-old lass from Quezon City has remained humble and magnanimous in her string of victories, some over top players that include Grand Slam champions.

Entering the second round in her return to the hardcourts of the Miami Open, Eala faced spitfirish Laura Siegemund of Germany (currently ranked no. 53 as of March 16), beating the three-time Grand Slam champion, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-3, in three hours and 20 minutes.

Eala's victory over the vaunted German has kicked off the her comeback campaign in the tournament that sparked her rise last year.

The match wasn't actually easy as Siegemund showed stiff competition to showcase her talent that once made her world's no. 27 in singles in 2016 and no. 4 in doubles in 2024.

“It definitely was close. Very demanding physically and mentally,” Eala enthused after her Round of 64 match.

“But that was one of my goals last year after this tournament was to improve physically and here I am fresh as a flower,” she added with a smile.

In the grueling openingg set, Eala squandered a 3-0 lead and four set points, including one at 6-5 in the tiebreak, allowing Siegemund to take it. But the country's pride dug deep to overcome Siegemund’s veteran savvy in the succeeding sets, racing to a 5-2 lead in the deciding third set and eventually holding the serve to win the match.

The Filipina's victory set up a potential clash either with Polish No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek, whom she beat during her breakthrough run in Miami last year as a qualifier, and dangerous Magda Linette, also of Poland in the next round.