Alexandra Eala stunned the tennis world with a dramatic first-round victory at the 2025 US Open, defeating 14th seed Clara Tauson in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(13-11). The 20-year-old from the Philippines roared back from a 1-5 deficit in the final set, rallying with relentless defense and fearless shot-making to force a tiebreak. With the crowd at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on its feet, Eala clinched the win on her fifth match point, collapsing to the court in tears.

A historic achievement for Philippine tennis

Eala’s victory marks the first time a Filipino player has won a singles match in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament during the Open Era. For a country where tennis has long taken a backseat to sports like basketball and boxing, her triumph represents a major milestone. Filipino fans packed the stands in Queens, New York, turning the match into a celebration of national pride. Eala later said, “To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in. I don’t have a home tournament, so to be able to have this community here at the US Open… I’m so grateful they made me feel like I’m home.”

Training roots and rising career

Eala has trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain since the age of 13, where she developed a style of play marked by grit and composure. Her junior career included a US Open girls’ singles title in 2022, and she recently broke into the WTA top 100 after a strong showing at the Miami Open, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions. Her win over Tauson adds to a growing list of accomplishments that have positioned her as one of the sport’s rising stars.

What’s next for Eala

Following her first-round triumph, Eala will face either Cristina Bucsa of Spain or Claire Liu of the United States in the second round. With her section of the draw opening up, a deep run at Flushing Meadows is within reach. A potential third-round clash with world No. 19 Elise Mertens looms, and beyond that, matchups with top seeds like Aryna Sabalenka or Leylah Fernandez could await. Regardless of how far she goes, Eala’s performance has already inspired a new generation of Filipino athletes and brought global attention to her journey.

Eala at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2025

At the moment ranked no.75, Eala has managed to achieve a compiled 27-18 match record in 2025. Eala is currently playing at the U.S. Open where she overcame the world no.14 Clara Tauson 6-3 2-6 7-6(11).

Alexandra was the finalist in Eastbourne (Rothesay International).