Alex Eala’s Historic US Open Victory Marks New Era for Philippine Tennis
Breaking New Ground in Philippine Tennis
In a historic achievement, 20-year-old Alexandra Eala became the first tennis player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam match in the Open era, securing a remarkable 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) first-round victory over 14th seed Clara Tauson at the 2025 US Open on August 25.
A Dramatic Comeback
The match was filled with drama as Eala staged a spectacular comeback, overcoming a 5-1 deficit in the third set. Currently ranked World No. 75, this victory marked her fourth win over top-20 opposition this season.
Rising Star’s Journey
Eala’s journey to success began at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain at age 13. Her impressive junior career included winning the girls’ doubles titles at the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open. In 2022, she made history by becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a junior grand slam singles trophy at the US Open, which catapulted her to stardom in her home country and led to her appearing on the cover of Vogue Philippines.
2025 Breakthrough Season
Earlier this year, Eala received a wildcard for the Miami Open, where she showcased her potential by defeating Katie Volynets, Jeļena Ostapenko, and Madison Keys, and later stunned Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals before losing to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. These remarkable results made her the first Filipino to reach a WTA semifinal and the first Filipino woman to defeat a major champion at a tour-level event in the Open Era.
Future Aspirations
Eala has set ambitious goals for herself, including becoming the World No. 1 player and winning Grand Slams. In her own words during a Tennis Channel interview, she’s always been ‘very ambitious,’ though she acknowledges that as her game improves, she’s experiencing firsthand ‘how hard it is to achieve that’. Her immediate plans include competing in Brazil and participating in several WTA Challenger events to further refine her game and gain crucial experience.
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