Alexandra Eala makes history as 1st Filipino to win US Open match

Tennis rising star Alexandra Eala became the first Filipino in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam main draw match after defeating 14th seed Clara Tauson in the opening round of the U.S. Open in New York on Sunday.

The 20-year-old overcame a 5-1 deficit in the deciding set before sealing a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) victory in a dramatic three-hour contest at Flushing Meadows. Eala’s breakthrough built on her earlier success, including her 2022 U.S. Open girls’ singles title that made her the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam championship. Following the historic victory, she cemented her place as the highest-ranked Filipino in WTA history, rising from No. 75 to No. 66 in the latest live standings on Monday.

Eala’s emotional response drew worldwide attention, with the Quezon City-born athlete collapsing to the ground in tears before addressing the crowd. “Everything just made it so special from who I was playing to the crowd,” she said. “I’m so blessed to be the first to do this. I take so much pride in representing my country.”

She also went viral when cameras caught her appearing to mouth the Filipino expletive “Putangina” during a tense rally, a raw outburst that fans embraced as a symbol of her passion and grit.

Eala will now face Spanish player Cristina Bucsa, ranked No. 95 in the world, in the second round on Tuesday. The match will be their second career meeting, with Eala winning their first encounter at the 2021 W25 Grenoble in France, where she fought back for a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8) victory in the round of 16.