Filipina Tennis Star Alex Eala Secures First Grand slam main Draw Win at US Open
NEW YORK – Alex Eala, the 20-year-old Filipina tennis sensation, battled through a grueling match and five match points to defeat No. 14 seed Clara tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11) in the first round of the US Open on Wednesday. The victory, lasting 2 hours and 36 minutes, marks Eala’s first main-draw win at a Grand Slam tournament and was fueled by a fervent crowd that rallied behind the rising star.
Eala’s win continues a historic run in New York, building on her 2022 US Open girls’ singles championship – a landmark achievement as the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles title. She defeated Mirra Andreeva 6-4,6-0 in the quarterfinals and Victoria Mboko 6-1,7-6 (5) in the semifinals before claiming the title against Lucie Havlickova with a 6-2,6-4 victory.
The match against Tauson was a rollercoaster. Eala took the first set, capitalizing on a break of serve at 3-2, a moment preceded by a complaint from Tauson to the chair umpire regarding crowd noise, which resulted in a warning to spectators. Tauson responded strongly in the second set, breaking Eala’s serve three times to force a deciding third set.
Tauson appeared poised for victory, racing to a 5-1 lead in the third. However, Eala, spurred on by the excited crowd, mounted a remarkable comeback. She broke Tauson twice while the Dane was serving for the match, the second break coming after a double fault on break point following a video review that confirmed Eala’s shot landed within the court boundaries.
Despite saving a match point and rallying from a 4-8 deficit in the tiebreak to save three more, Tauson ultimately couldn’t overcome Eala’s resilience.
“I’m always in the mood for more history,” Eala said after the match. “This match is one for the books, for me.”
Eala’s breakthrough performance at the US Open follows a strong showing earlier this year at the WTA 1000 Miami Open, where she reached the semifinals after stunning victories over Grand Slam champions jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek. She noted the importance of the support she received in New York, stating, “To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in…to be able to have this community here at the US Open, I’m so grateful that they made me feel like I’m home.”
Eala will now aim to reach the third round of a Grand slam for the first time in her career. She will face either Cristina Bucsa or American Claire Liu, depending on the outcome of their first-round match.
Key Facts & Context:
Past Importance: Eala’s win is her first in a Grand slam main draw, following her 2022 US Open girls’ singles title.
Miami Open Breakthrough: Her semifinal run at the WTA 1000 Miami Open earlier this year established her as a rising force in women’s tennis.
Crowd Support: The article emphasizes the notable role the Filipino community played in supporting Eala throughout the match.
match Details: The article accurately reflects the scoreline (6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11)), match duration (2 hours and 36 minutes), and key moments like the video review and Tauson’s complaints about crowd noise.
* Next Opponent: The article correctly identifies the potential opponents for Eala’s next match.
