Recommended Video
Alex Eala reflects on her historic victory at the 2025 US Open.
Alex Eala has raised the bar once more as she dazzled in her US Open debut.
In danger of suffering another first-round exit, Eala turned the tables against world No. 14 Clara Tauson of Denmark to complete a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) victory at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
By pulling off the improbable comeback, Alex became the first-ever Filipino tennis player, male or female, to win in a Grand Slam event in the sport’s Open era.
“I would say that anything is possible, and to dream big,” Eala said after the historic victory last Monday (Philippine time), August 25.
“Me, as a person, I’m very ambitious. Although there was no one from my country who did this before and was successful in tennis. I took inspiration from anyone I could; from my family, from my brother. So just be ambitious, dream big, and know that you can do it.”
Eala also received tons of support from the Filipino crowd at the venue, with their passionate cheers backing up the Filipina ace as she clawed back from the brink against the higher-ranked Tauson.
This, along with the historic implications of Monday’s match, made the victory all the more sweeter for the 20-year-old.
“It means a lot! I think you could see by my reaction, and I think everything just made it so special, from who I was playing, a really good player, first round, first main draw of the US Open, coming back from injury,” Eala said.
“The crowd was amazing, so everything just made the atmosphere so exciting, but at the same time so tense, so that’s also part of why I am so happy.”
Alex Eala will look to continue her breakthrough this Wednesday (Philippine time) as she takes on world no. 93 Cristina Bucșa in the second round of the US Open.
“I think the key for my upcoming match is to come in with the same mentality, the same fight,” Eala said. “Obviously I will prepare as needed, but right now I’m just focused on recovering because that was a very tough match. But I think this [win] will help long-term, not just for now.”
For now, Alex Eala will allow herself to feel the weight of her historic feat, and what it means not just for her, but for the Philippines as well.
“I’m so blessed to be the first to do this. Like I said, I take so much pride in representing my country, and you know? It makes what I do bigger than myself, and it adds meaning to what I do.”
Images courtesy of AFP.