World No. 15 Norwegian Casper Ruud evaluated the progress of 19-year-old Filipino Alexandra Eala, currently ranked world No. 72.
“What she is doing is amazing,” Ruud said. “I don`t know her personally, but on screen she looks like a very humble girl. Yesterday she was very close to beating Swiatek again. It`s interesting to see the steps she is taking at the highest level of the sport. And I hope it continues this way. I advise her to enjoy it.”
Earlier, at the WTA 1000 hardcourt tournament in Miami, Eala caused a sensation by knocking out Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals without dropping a set to the former world No. 1 (6/2, 7/5).
Ruud also commented on reaching the third round of the Madrid Masters. In his second-round match, he defeated French tennis player Arthur Rinderknech, ranked world No. 76, with a score of 6/3, 6/4.
“I am happy with today`s win,” Ruud said at a press conference. “Despite losing my serve at the start of the first set, I managed to break back. I think that was a key moment. After that, the score went from 2/2 to 5/2, and I won the first set. And at the start of the second, I pulled ahead again, and my serve didn`t let me down throughout the match.”
In the next round, the Norwegian will face American tennis player Sebastian Korda.
Marcus Prine