Eala ends Miami Open campaign in loss to Muchova

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Alex Eala’s run in the Miami Open tournament has come to an end after succumbing to a laser-focused Karolina Muchova, 0-6, 2-6, on March 23, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Muchova, the WTA’s World No. 14-ranked female tennis player, got almost everything she wanted in the Round of 16 clash and pulled off her most dominant win in Miami across the first three matches.

The loss to the Czech was almost like a replay of her Dubai Open exit a month ago, where she bowed to Coco Gauff with the same score in just an hour of tennis action.

It was like Eala was facing a tennis wall drill. Everything the Filipina fired, Muchova always had an answer for, pulling off a clinical display of hitting precision from the get-go until the second set.

Unlike her past wins over Laura Siegemund and Magda Linette, Eala failed to penetrate and counter Muchova’s on-point baseline game.

To make things worse, the down-the-line forehand and the left-shoulder turn to a cross-court power shot, her bread and butter in the first two rounds, shied away when she needed them the most.

Total domination. A hot bagel served by Muchova on a cold evening to the thousands of Filipino spectators at home. For the first time in Miami, Eala failed to score a single game point and got obliterated.

In just 22 minutes, Muchova drew first blood to get on board with a 1-0 advantage, banking on a flawless and efficient all-around game that kept Eala guessing the whole match.

Due to the Czech’s unpredictable baseline angles, Eala struggled to find her hitting rhythm and didn’t gain any momentum, something she badly needed in hopes of a recovery in the following set.

It was still all Muchova in the second frame as the 29-year-old ace flaunted a more varied offensive technique, specifically with her net approach when Eala decided to stay on the baseline to regain her forehand rhythm.

Eala showed some signs of life after managing to hold serve twice to get within 2-5, but Muchova capped off the duel in the eighth game of the set, en route to a massive 2-0 win.

“It was probably experience,” said Muchova after the win.

“I know she (Eala) can be very dangerous. She had an amazing result here last year. I tried to control the game, keep myself in the baseline, and be aggressive. And yes, it worked.”