Alexandra Eala's historic Miami Open run will continue into the quarterfinals.
The teenager from the Philippines reached her first Hologic WTA Tour quarterfinal without hitting a ball on Monday, as No. 10 seed Paula Badosa withdrew from their scheduled fourth-round match due to a low back injury.
Miami: Draws | Scores | Order of play
Wild card Eala and Badosa were expected to play after both scored dramatic third-round wins on Sunday: World No. 140 Eala topped No. 5 seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys to continue a best-ever effort for a player from the Philippines in the Open Era. Badosa, meanwhile, earned a dramatic 6-3, 7-6(3) win over in-form Dubai finalist Clara Tauson, the No. 20 seed, having needed a medical timeout earlier in the match.
The 19-year-old Eala, the junior US Open champion in 2022, had never previously won three consecutive matches at any tour-level event prior to this tournament -- though the walkover from Badosa will not count towards her overall win-loss record.
Competing in her sixth WTA 1000 event, Eala will face No. 2 seed and former Miami champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. Swiatek beat No. 22 seed Elina Svitolina in the late-night match on Monday.
Swiatek will be the third Grand Slam singles champion Eala will face this fortnight. Eala already beat 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko and reigning Australian Open champion Keys in this run -- the first two Top 40 wins of her career.
