ATP/WTA: Eala and Fonseca rewrite the history books

Fearless Fonseca bringing the party

It's becoming a frequent and welcome carnival on tour when Joao Fonseca is in town. Brazilian fans are popping up everywhere to show loud and proud support for this unique talent.

The 18-year-old is certainly justifying the hype with his high-octane tennis. Catch some highlights - the power and conviction are mesmerising, the excitement he stirs in the stands is mesmerising.

In 2025 so far, the Brazilian qualified for the Australian Open and then defeated Andrey Rublev. He also lifted an ATP title in Buenos Aires, as well as two ATP Challenger trophies. Long story short, Fonseca is winning a lot.

Riding at a career-high No.60, Fonseca has already posted two head-turning wins in Miami. First up, he struck 43 winners in a thrilling 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4 comeback over American teenage sensation Learner Tien.

Next up, on Saturday Fonseca dominated No.19 seed Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-3 to become the youngest player to reach a Masters 1000 third round since Carlos Alcaraz in Paris in 2021!

Australia's No.10 seed Alex de Minaur awaits. Get ready for carnival time again.

"I practiced my first time with Alex in Indian Wells. He's a great guy. We all know how great he is playing, how he is as a fighter," said Fonseca, embracing his adoring fans.

"For sure the crowd is going to support me a lot on the tough moments. I like to play with them. I feel like I stay more hyped with them. When I need energy and some kind of different force, I can call them, and they're with me.

"At the same time I know it's not because of the crowd that I'm going to win. I need to put my best tennis."

Trailblazer Eala downs major champions

Alexandra Eala is another name set to feature in the latter stages of marquee events for years to come.

The 19-year-old is the 'first Filipino to…' pretty much every time she wins, a true trailblazer for her country.

She enjoyed a stellar junior career, reaching the semi-finals of Roland-Garros 2020 as a 15-year-old and then won the US Open 2022 singles title. The potential was always there, it’s now here.

Eala, who has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for the past seven years, is well and truly grasping her wild card opportunity in Miami.

A 6-3, 7-6(3) passage past Katie Volynets set the tone, then Eala edged Jelena Ostapenko 7-6(2), 7-5. Not done yet, a second major champion was undone by this spirited left-hander on Sunday.

Eala's brave, instinctive striking sent the world No.140 blazing past Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-4, 6-2, to launch into emotional celebrations. In doing so, Eala is the first Filipino player to score a Top 10 win since the WTA rankings came into use in 1975.

"It's a big thing to take in, and I feel it's important for me to take it in step by step. I'm so super proud of what I was able to accomplish, but it definitely fuels me more," said Eala, taking on Paula Badosa in the fourth round.

"I know and it's in my mind that I have a next match, but I need to stop, and I need to recognise that what I did today was really amazing. I think my reaction on court, sums up pretty much how I feel about it.

"In the end, the goal is to win Slams, to get the rankings. I think this is a good step towards where I want to be.”

Century chasing Djokovic in the hunt

Just like Eala, Coleman Wong also trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy.

The Hong Kong native has been plugging away, mainly on the Challenger Tour in recent seasons, but chalked up a huge upset in Miami with a 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-6(5) triumph over No.13 seed Ben Shelton.

Also just like Eala, Wong received a congratulatory X post on social media from the one and only Nadal. Check it out below!

The seeded troubles have kept coming in Miami. In fact, all four ATP semi-finalists from Indian Wells fell at the first hurdle in Miami. An off-kilter Carlos Alcaraz succumbed to the wily David Goffin 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, whilst Indian Wells champion Jack Draper was edged in an electric 7-6(2), 7-6(3) clash with Czech young gun Jakub Mensik.

Elsewhere, Zizou Bergs roared to his first Top 10 victory, posting 7-5 6-4 facing No.8 seed Rublev and No.9 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was toppled in the third round 7-6(4), 6-3 by Sebastian Korda. The American's reward is a Last 16 tussle with Gael Monfils!

Despite all these plot twists and shocks, the evergreen Novak Djokovic remains in the hunt for his 100th career title.

On Sunday night, the 24-time major winner dispatched qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-1, 7-6(1) to earn a record 411th Masters 1000 match win, pulling clear of Nadal's tally of 410.

Top trio on the right track

The WTA's leading lights continue to shine bright. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and American stars Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula remain in contention. Sabalenka has a firecracker fourth round with reigning champion Danielle Collins coming up on Monday.

World No.2 Iga Swiatek reached the Last 16 of a WTA 1000 event for a record 25th successive time with a 7-6(2), 6-1 scoreline over Elise Mertens.

In a battle between the only WTA 1000 champions so far this year, Mirra Andreeva's stunning 13-match winning streak came to a halt in a 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3 thriller over the net from Doha champion Amanda Anisimova.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has dug in (requiring three hours to surpass Hailey Baptiste) for a Last 16 duel with No.6 seed Jasmine Paolini.

Home hope Ashlyn Krueger has already sent No.7 seed Elena Rybakina and No.26 seed Leylah Fernandez out. The 20-year-old will hope to keep that momentum to derail No.9 seed Zheng Qinwen.

No.8 seed Emma Navarro was denied a deep run in Miami 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(3) by US Open 2021 champion Emma Raducanu.