MANILA, Philippines – Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala made history after pulling off a stunning upset against world No. 14 Clara Tauson of Denmark in her US Open debut, becoming the first Filipino player to win a Grand Slam singles match.
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| Photo courtesy: US Open Tennis Championships |
The 20-year-old from Quezon City showed remarkable grit as she rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the deciding set to secure a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11) victory on Sunday, August 24 (Monday, August 25, Manila time).
Eala appeared on the brink of elimination when Tauson dominated the third set. But with unwavering determination, she stormed back, winning five straight games to take a 6-5 lead. Tauson forced a tiebreak, where both players traded points in a nerve-racking duel.
Eala held an early 8-4 advantage, only for Tauson to level the score at 8-all. The tension mounted as they went back and forth, but Eala, buoyed by momentum and crowd support, seized the breakthrough to complete the biggest win of her young career.
"I'm super over the moon with what I was able to do today, especially coming back in the third," said Eala. "It's a very special win for me."
The victory also carries historic weight: it marked the first time in the Open Era—which began in 1968, when professionals were allowed to compete in Grand Slam events—that a Filipino advanced past the opening round of a singles draw.
Looking ahead, Eala is set to face either Spain’s Cristina Bucsa or American Claire Liu in the next round. She vowed to carry the same never-say-die spirit forward.
"The key for my upcoming match is just to come in with the same mentality, same fight," Eala shared. "Right now, I'm just focused on recovering."
— The Summit Express