Alexandra Eala thanks fans after Miami Open run ends in semifinal

Alexandra Eala checked in with fans Friday following her Miami Open exit.

“A heartfelt thank you to everybody on here for all the love and sweet messages that you guys have sent over the past few days,” the 19-year-old wrote on her Instagram Stories. “It will take time for me to get back to you all, but! want you guys to know I appreciate every single one of you.”

Read more: Jessica Pegula ends Alexandra Eala's fairytale run in Miami

Eala enjoyed a Cinderella story at the Hard Rock Stadium, becoming the first player from the Philippines to defeat not one but two Top 10 players, scoring wins over Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek en route to her first WTA 1000 semifinal.

The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate came within one set of the final when she pushed Jessica Pegula in three sets, but ultimately fell, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, nonetheless earning a warm ovation from the Miami crowd.

Eala certainly gained tons of fans from her breakthrough week, nearly doubling her Instagram followers in the last four days.

“I would love to think that I make a difference,” she said of her potential to make tennis more popular in her home country. “You know, that's the only thing I can do to give back to my country is to help inspire, to inspire change and positive change, to inspire people to pick up a racquet, to watch more tennis, watch more women's tennis.”

Eala is projected to make her Top 100 debut next week, meaning she is likely to continue growing her following through what looks to be an unforgettable season.