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ALEXANDRA EALA PRODUCED a jaw-dropping late comeback to carve her name in tennis history at the US Open on Monday, August 25 (Philippine time), as the 20-year-old Filipina stunned the tennis world by becoming the first Filipino player to win a Grand Slam singles match, toppling 14th seed Clara Tauson of Denmark in the opening round.
Eala, who hails from Quezon City, looked on the brink of defeat after falling behind 1–5 in the deciding set. But she fought back with grit and composure, eventually forcing a nail-biting tiebreak before sealing a 6–3, 2–6, 7–6 (13/11) triumph in just under three hours.
“I’m super over the moon with what I was able to do today, especially coming back in the third,” Eala said after the match. “It’s a very special win for me.”
The victory brought Eala to tears as she collapsed to the court, later revealing that past experiences— both triumphs and heartbreaks — helped her dig deep in the clutch moments.
A CAREER OF FIRSTS AND HISTORIC WINS
Eala’s latest triumph is the crown jewel of a career already filled with groundbreaking achievements for Philippine tennis.
Here’s a quick look at Alex Eala’s steady march to tennis stardom:
• Junior Grand Slam Success
• 2020 Australian Open girls’ doubles champion
• 2021 French Open girls’ doubles champion
• 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion – becoming the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles title, without dropping a set.
EARLY PROFESSIONAL TITLES
Turning pro in 2020, Eala quickly proved she could transition from juniors to the professional circuit. She picked up multiple titles on the ITF Circuit, including victories in W15, W25, and W50 tournaments, steadily climbing the WTA rankings.
MIAMI OPEN 2025 BREAKTHROUGH
Eala shocked the tennis world at the Miami Open, defeating Australian Open champion Madison Keys, 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko, and world No. 1 Iga Świątek in succession.
This run made her:
• The first Filipino to beat a Top 10 player in the Open Era.
• The first Filipina to reach the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event.
• A top 100 debutante, climbing to world No. 75.
• Eastbourne Open 2025 Finalist
Weeks later, she reached the final of the Eastbourne Open, becoming the first Filipino—and first Southeast Asian since 2010—to contest a WTA singles final. Though she lost in a tight three-setter, she cracked the Top 60 in the rankings.
WIMBLEDON DEBUT
At Wimbledon 2025, Eala became the first Filipina in the main draw. She even played on Centre Court, where she won the first set against defending champion Barbora Krejčíková before bowing out in three sets. She marked the occasion by wearing a sampaguita hair tie, a proud nod to her heritage.
US OPEN 2025 MAIN DRAW VICTORY
Her dramatic comeback against Tauson now marks the greatest breakthrough yet: the first Grand Slam main draw singles victory for the Philippines.
CARRYING A NATION’S HOPES
“I’m so blessed to be the first to do this,” Eala said of her US Open victory. “I take so much pride in representing my country. It makes what I do bigger than myself, and it adds meaning to what I do.”
From her junior titles to giant-killing runs on the WTA Tour, Eala’s journey is one of milestones that transcend individual achievement. She is no longer just a promising young player—she is a trailblazer, carrying the hopes of millions of Filipinos each time she steps on court.
With her first Grand Slam main draw win secured, Alexandra Eala has cemented her status not just as a history-maker, but as the face of Philippine tennis on the world stage. (elamigo)