THE stage keeps getting bigger for Alex Eala - and so do the challenges.
After making history with her first-ever win in the US Open main draw, Eala's trail-blazing journey at the 2025 US Open faces another road block as she takes on Moldovan-born Spanish player Cristina Bucsa.
READ Alex Eala's two-word volley punctuates exhilirating US Open moment
Bucsa, who like Eala reached a high of 56th in the WTA rankings before settling at No. 95, stormed into the second round after crushing American Claire Liu, 6-2, 6-1, in just an hour and 28 minutes early Tuesday morning (Manila time).
On the other hand, it took everything from Eala to march on.
The world No. 75 battled for two hours and 36 minutes before ousting Denmark’s Clara Tauson in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7), to deliver the Philippines’ first-ever main draw victory at the US Open in the modern era.
They are scheduled to face each other on Wednesday midnight onwards, Manila time, with the specific court and exact time still to be determined.
The two have a little history.
Four years ago in Grenoble, a 15-year-old Eala stunned the more seasoned Bucsa in an ITF W25 event, rallying to win 2-6, 6-3, 7-6. Bucsa was 23 then.
They meet again in the pro ranks, both battle-tested and with careers that have steadily risen since.
Bucsa enters New York fresh from a run at the Abierto GNP Seguros, where she reached the third round before falling to Alycia Parks.
Although the 5-foot-9 Bucsa has reached as far as the third round of grand slams, she has found more success in doubles where the Spaniard has seven WTA titles and an Olympic bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Games.
Eala, meanwhile, is still regaining her rhythm after an injury layoff, her last outing before the Open being a tough loss to 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova at the National Bank Open last July.
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