FILIPINO TENNIS sensation Alex Eala may have fallen short of a US Open fourth-round berth, but her stirring three-set, three-hour battle with American teenager Iva Jovic left a lasting impression on one of tennis’ all-time greats.
Nine-time Grand Slam champion Monica Seles was among those captivated by the third-round showdown between Eala and Jovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the two young stars traded blows for more than three hours before Jovic prevailed, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
Seles later expressed her admiration for the quality and intensity of the contest, saying she did not want the match to end.
“The intensity in every single point was incredible. I wish it was a three-out-of-five-set match as I didn’t want it to end,” Seles said.
Impressive Encounter
Coming from a former world No. 1 and nine-time Grand Slam champion, the praise highlighted just how impressive the encounter was between two of the sport’s rising talents.
Eala, the Philippines’ highest-ranked women’s singles player at world No. 18, showed remarkable composure and fighting spirit throughout the match. After dropping a tightly contested opening set, she responded strongly in the second, forcing a deciding set against her close friend and longtime rival.
The Filipina then pushed Jovic to the limit in the third set, but the American teenager held her nerve in the closing stages to secure the victory.
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Eala’s performance further underlined her rapid rise on the international stage. Her run in New York came after a breakthrough season highlighted by her maiden WTA Tour singles title in Washington and a series of impressive victories over established stars.
The match also carried an added layer of emotion, with Eala and Jovic sharing a warm embrace at the net after the final point.
For Eala, the loss ended her latest Grand Slam campaign, but the battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium showed she is increasingly comfortable competing on tennis’ biggest stages.
And with Seles among those impressed by what she witnessed, Eala’s latest US Open appearance offered another reminder that the Filipina is becoming a force to watch in the next generation of women’s tennis.
