Pride of the Philippines: Alex Eala Stuns World No. 15 in US Open Classic
ALEX EALA – Tennis player Alex Eala gave Filipinos a reason to celebrate as she delivered a historic first Grand Slam singles win at the 2025 US Open.
Alex Eala carved her name into Philippine tennis history after a stunning first-round victory at the 2025 US Open. The 19-year-old Filipina sensation toppled World No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark in a gripping three-set duel, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), early Monday (Philippine time).
With the win, Eala became the first Filipino to secure a singles match victory in a Grand Slam tournament during the Open era, finally breaking her streak of opening-round exits on the biggest stages of the sport.
The milestone was even more symbolic, as Flushing Meadows has long been a special place for Eala. In 2022, she captured her first junior Grand Slam title at the same venue, winning the US Open girls’ singles crown.
Ranked No. 75 in the world, Eala showed incredible resilience against the powerful Tauson. Down 1-5 in the deciding set, she clawed her way back to force a dramatic tiebreak. Backed by a loud Filipino crowd inside the Grandstand, she fended off Tauson’s comeback attempts and finally closed out the match on her fourth match point. Overcome with emotion, Eala dropped to the court in tears.
“It was so, so difficult. I was so happy I was able to dig deep and push the limit, physically and mentally. This was it,” she shared in her post-match interview.
Tauson, a three-time WTA champion at just 22 years old, proved to be a formidable opponent. After losing the first set, she regrouped and controlled the second before racing ahead in the decider. But Eala’s grit turned the tide as she strung together five unanswered games to stay alive.
Grateful for the overwhelming support, Eala expressed how much the crowd meant to her journey: “It’s so special. They [the crowd] make me more and more special to be a Filipino. It’s something I take so much pride in.”
Now moving on to the second round, Eala has her sights set on creating even more milestones. “I’m always in the mood for more history. This match is one for the books for me,” she declared.
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