{"id":1836481,"date":"2026-03-20T10:15:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T07:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1836481"},"modified":"2026-03-20T10:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T07:15:31","slug":"miami-open-who-is-alex-ealas-round-3-opponent-meet-giant-killer-magda-linette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1836481","title":{"rendered":"Miami Open: Who is Alex Eala&#8217;s Round 3 opponent? Meet giant-killer Magda Linette"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Miami Open: Who is Alex Eala\u2019s Round 3 opponent? Meet giant-killer Magda Linette<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"20 Mar 2026 10:15 AM\" data-ps-date=\"20 Mar 2026 10:15 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1774001731\"><br \/>\n                            20 Mar 2026 10:15 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/miami-open-who-alex-eala-round-3-opponent-meet-giant-killer-magda-linette\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fmiami-open-who-alex-eala-round-3-opponent-meet-giant-killer-magda-linette\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fmiami-open-who-alex-eala-round-3-opponent-meet-giant-killer-magda-linette\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fmiami-open-who-alex-eala-round-3-opponent-meet-giant-killer-magda-linette\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fmiami-open-who-alex-eala-round-3-opponent-meet-giant-killer-magda-linette\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Miami Open: Who is Alex Eala\u2019s Round 3 opponent? Meet giant-killer Magda Linette\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Eala-Linette-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Alex Eala and Magda Linette.\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                WTA Tour players Alex Eala and Magda Linette.                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Alex Eala battled her way through to the third round of the Miami Open on Thursday, and the 31st seed\u2019s draw has opened up significantly at the WTA 1000 event.<\/p>\n<p>The Filipina is under some pressure in Miami this year, with semi-final points to defend from last year\u2019s breakout run, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alex-eala-avoids-rankings-blow-complaining-opponents-behaviour-miami-open\">though she battled past Laura Siegemund in a tense three-set encounter to start her 2026 campaign with victory<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alex-eala\">Eala<\/a> faces an intriguing test against tour veteran and world No 50 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/magda-linette\">Magda Linette<\/a>, who pulled off the shock of the tournament so far in round two.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jack-draper-carlos-alcaraz-jannik-sinner-changed-tennis-comment-miami-open\">Miami Open: Jack Draper makes telling claim about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner\u2019s impact\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alex-eala-speaks-popularity-famous-miami-open-2026\">Miami Open: Alex Eala gets candid about her huge popularity as she makes \u2018surprising\u2019 confession<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Linette stunned Swiatek<\/h2>\n<p>When the draw was made last Sunday, all eyes were on a potential rematch between Eala and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/iga-swiatek\">Iga Swiatek<\/a>, twelve months on from the 20-year-old\u2019s stunning win over the Pole at this event.<\/p>\n<p>Eala and Swiatek were projected to meet in round three, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/miami-open-iga-swiateks-worst-nightmare-as-star-stunned-in-historic-loss\">though Linette recorded one of the best wins of her career to stun her compatriot on Thursday, beating Swiatek 1-6, 7-5, 6-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was just trying to focus to hold my serve first, to get a little more ahead and keep being ahead all the time,\u201d said Linette, speaking to <em>Tennis Channel<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen you might get a chance here or there, and eventually I did. That\u2019s what was the most important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prior to victory over Swiatek, the world No 50 had beaten Varvara Gracheva in three sets in the opening round.<\/p>\n<h2>Career highlights<\/h2>\n<p>Linette is currently ranked 50th in the world, but she previously reached a career-high of world No 19 back in March 2023.<\/p>\n<p>That came just weeks after her best-ever run at a Grand Slam tournament, with the Pole reaching the semi-final of the 2023 Australian Open, ultimately falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.<\/p>\n<p>The 34-year-old has reached eight WTA Tour singles finals and is the winner of three tour-level titles, first triumphing at the Bronx Open back in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Linette then triumphed at the Hua Hin Championships back in 2020, before lifting the Prague Open title in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>She is currently coached by compatriot and former world No 2 Agnieszka Radwanska, one of the greatest Polish tennis players of all time.<\/p>\n<h2>Head-to-head<\/h2>\n<p>This will be the fourth career meeting between Linette and Eala, with the Pole holding a narrow 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head.<\/p>\n<p>Linette beat Eala in the opening round of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open, back when the Filipina was a teenager, and then prevailed when they met in round one of the Nottingham Open last June.<\/p>\n<p>However, it was Eala who prevailed in their most recent meeting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/wta-tour\/alex-eala-secures-wta-rankings-milestone-reaching-semi-finals-auckland\">convincingly beating Linette 6-3, 6-2 in the Auckland Open quarter-final this January<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>When will this match take place?<\/h2>\n<p>An official court placement and projected start time are yet to be confirmed for Eala and Linette\u2019s match.<\/p>\n<p>However, with the two having been in action on Thursday, they will not take to the court for their round-three clash until Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>The winner of this match is projected to face 13th seed Karolina Muchova in round four, though the Czech has not yet taken to the court in Miami due to heavy rain delays earlier in the event.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/moise-kouame-66-atp-rankings-makes-history-miami-open-win\">Teenage prodigy Moise Kouame +66 in ATP Rankings as he makes history with Miami Open win<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Miami Open: Who is Alex Eala\u2019s Round 3 opponent? Meet giant-killer Magda Linette Oli Dickson Jefford 20 Mar 2026 10:15 AM WTA Tour players Alex Eala and Magda Linette. Alex Eala battled her way through to the third round of the Miami Open on Thursday, and the 31st seed\u2019s draw has opened up significantly at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1836481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1836481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1836481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1836481\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1836481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1836481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1836481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}