Eala Echoes Gauff's Frustration With Siegemund in Miami Open Clash

The Filipina player complained about her German opponent's time-wasting tactics during their heated second-round match.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:51am

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Alexandra Eala's second-round match against Laura Siegemund at the Miami Open was briefly marred by controversy after the Filipina raised a time violation concern with the chair umpire. This is not the first time Siegemund has bothered her opponent by delaying points, as Coco Gauff went through a similar experience in her first-round match at the 2023 US Open.

Why it matters

Siegemund's time-wasting tactics have been an ongoing issue on the women's tennis tour, with both Eala and Gauff complaining about her conduct. This highlights the challenges players face in dealing with opponents who try to disrupt their rhythm and service routines.

The details

The flashpoint arrived in the second set with Eala ahead 2-1, 30-15. After the Filipina's wayward ball toss disrupted her service motion, her opponent walked back toward the baseline and appeared to raise a concern with the chair umpire. The official, however, indicated that the Filipina already had 6 seconds left and any breach would be addressed if she exceeded the allotted time.

  • The incident occurred during Eala and Siegemund's second-round match at the 2026 Miami Open.

The players

Alexandra Eala

A Filipina tennis player who was competing in the second round of the 2026 Miami Open.

Laura Siegemund

A German tennis player known for her time-wasting tactics, which have previously frustrated opponents like Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff

An American tennis player who faced a similar issue with Siegemund's time-wasting tactics during the 2023 US Open.

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What they’re saying

“Can you watch her time, because many times she's delaying,”

— Alexandra Eala

“The time has been watched and she knows. And you as well, you need to be careful of the clock.”

— Chair umpire

“She's never ready when I'm serving. She went over the clock like four times, you gave her a time violation once. How is this fair?”

— Coco Gauff

What’s next

The match between Eala and Siegemund continued, with the German eventually winning the second set in a tiebreaker. Eala will look to regroup and try to advance further in the Miami Open.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of time-wasting tactics in women's tennis, with players like Eala and Gauff expressing frustration over opponents who try to disrupt their rhythm and service routines. It underscores the need for stricter enforcement of time violation rules to ensure a fair and consistent playing environment.