Alexandra Eala, the 20 year old Filipino tennis sensation, has made history at the 2025 US Open by becoming the first player from the Philippines in the Open Era to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam. Her dramatic first round victory over 14th seed Clara Tauson will be remembered as one of the standout moments of the tournament so far.
Eala showed incredible resilience, rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the final set to force a tiebreak. With the crowd behind her, she clinched the match 7-6 in a nerve wracking 13-11 finish. The emotional release was clear as she collapsed to the court in tears, overwhelmed by the significance of her achievement.
Speaking after the match, Eala said she was proud to carry the Filipino flag on such a global stage and hoped her win would inspire young athletes back home. She highlighted how much it meant to show that Filipino players can compete at the highest level of world tennis.
This historic triumph adds to a year of milestones for Eala. She recently broke into the WTA top 100 rankings and earlier stunned the tennis world at the Miami Open by becoming the first Filipina to defeat a top five opponent. Her US Open breakthrough further cements her place as one of the most promising rising stars in the sport.
Eala will now face either Claire Liu or Cristina Bucsa in the second round. While the challenge ahead is tough, her fearless performance in New York has already placed her in the spotlight and won her admiration across the tennis community. For Filipino fans, her success is more than a personal victory—it is a national moment of pride.
