MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 21, 2026

Alexandra Eala

Press Conference

A. EALA/M. Linette

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Talk about your match today and how you feel things went.

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think it went really great. I was definitely put in some tough positions by Magda, especially in that second. So I'm really happy how I pulled through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Next you'll face Karolina Muchova. What are your thoughts about playing her?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Yeah, I'm really excited. I haven't thought about it much. I haven't had time to think about it much.

She's obviously a great player and is doing really well. A couple years back I watched one of her finals. I was really impressed. To be put in a position to compete against her is a real privilege and going to be a test, for sure.

Q. Talking about the match today, specifically the second set tiebreak, you were up initially in the second set, she got it back on serve. What was your mindset going into that tiebreak?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think I just told myself to be brave, do whatever I could. I can't control how she was playing. She I think upped her game in the second, so...

I tried to go for my shots, and they were effective luckily.

Q. Throughout the tournament here I'm sure you've noticed there's been a lot of pets, cats and dogs. Are you a cat and dog person? What are your thoughts about players bringing their pets on-site?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I personally have never really had like a big pet. But no, I think it's great for the players to have those kind of companions. I guess at the end of the day they're an addition to the team. The season is long. For them to be able to have that I guess additional team member is great.

I don't see myself doing that anytime soon. But yeah, it brings a good vibe - as long as they don't bite.

Q. The first week of Miami has been a lot of rain. It's very sunny now. A lot of delays. Maybe didn't affect you as much. Does that affect you in any way when that's happening? When there's a long delay, what is your strategy of coming off court and going back on?

ALEXANDRA EALA: You mean during matches or...

Q. During a specific match hypothetically you're on court, go off, come back on. What are you doing during that time when you leave?

ALEXANDRA EALA: It really depends. I think you have to stay warm first. You need to see how the weather goes because it's always very unpredictable. But nobody knows what's going to happen, right? We can't tell the future. We do our best to handle what we can. Also depends what time of day it is, if we've eaten.

I think generally we try to stay warm, always be alert and on our feet, yeah.

Q. Throughout various press conferences you like to mention the phrase 'spoonful of gratitude', how you've embraced that. You made your big breakthrough moment here. When you mention that phrase, where does that gratitude come from?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think the fact I recognize that I'm also blessed to be living my life, or the life that I live. Of course, I've earned it. I've definitely earned it. I've put in the work. That's not to be questioned.

Then again, I think it's so important to be grateful for what you have. I've witnessed poverty in surroundings, in my surroundings. I don't take for granted anything, especially family and my team and just the opportunities I'm able to have. So that's why I make it a point to always be grateful.