Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA 1000 Miami Open match.
Jessica Pegula faces a real test in Miami as she prepares to meet a serious challenge — the rising star Alexandra Eala.
Alexandra Eala
The 19-year-old sensation has stunned the tennis world, backing up her breakthrough run with a stunning quarterfinal win over world No. 2 Iga Świątek (6:2, 7:5). Eala converted 8 of 10 break points and, at times, left Świątek helpless with her precision and fearless shot-making. That upset came after she dispatched Australian Open champion and world No. 5 Madison Keys in straight sets (6:4, 6:2). While a walkover against Paula Badosa helped ease her path physically, Eala’s level has been consistently brilliant — she's proving she belongs at the very top.
Jessica Pegula
The fourth seed has had a tougher route to the final four. She was tested by Emma Raducanu — a former US Open champion who, despite her current ranking outside the top 50, still poses a threat. Pegula prevailed in a tight three-setter (6:4, 6:7, 6:2). In fact, only once in the entire tournament has she closed out a match in under 20 games — a 6:2, 6:3 win over Marta Kostyuk in the round of 16.
Jessica Pegula vs Alexandra Eala Prediction
This will be their first-ever meeting, which comes as no surprise given Eala’s meteoric rise. Pegula now knows exactly what she’s up against, but preparation alone may not be enough to tame the fearless Filipino player.
