The impressive background of Alex Eala, the Filipino tennis player who caused a sensation at the 2025 US Open

On the grand stage of Flushing Meadows, 20-year-old rising star Alex Eala made history as the first Filipino player to win a singles match in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament.

The background of Alex Eala, the Filipino tennis player who shook the US Open

Facing the 14th seed Clara Tauson in the opening round of the U.S. Open, Eala appeared to be the underdog. But at the most intense moment of the match, trailing 5-1 in the deciding set, the young athlete from Southeast Asia refused to quietly exit the competition. Instead, she staged a courageous comeback, forcing a tiebreak and ultimately winning 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11).

The scoreline reflected Eala’s resilience and determination. “It was really, really tough,” Eala said in a post-match interview. “Clara is an excellent player, a strong opponent. It definitely wasn’t an easy first-round match, but I’m very happy to have made it through. I just focused on pushing my limits physically and mentally… and this is the result.”