JUST as unpredictable as her opener, Alex Eala made an unexpected exit from the 2025 US Open after falling to a lower-ranked opponent in Cristina Bucsa, 4-6, 4-6, early Thursday morning, Manila time.
At Court 7 of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, the 20-year-old Filipina walked away from a sea of Filipino supporters, closing her campaign after recording her maiden Grand Slam main draw win in the first round against Dane Clara Tauson.
After leading 4-3 in the first set, Eala, WTA No. 75, squandered a break point with a missed forehand and fell behind 4-5, before Bucsa, ranked No. 95, wrested full control, saving three break points to seal the set.
READ: Before the big crowds, Alex Eala always had bro Miko by her side
The second set saw Eala trail after a 2-2 deadlock in the fourth game, undone by errors and a costly double fault in a match that was over in just an hour and 22 minutes.
The loss evened out their head-to-head record at 1-1, with Eala having beaten Bucsa early in their careers back in 2021 but falling short this time when it mattered more.
Still, a round-of-64 finish marks the Filipina’s best grand slam result to date, improving on her first-round exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier this year.
She secured her place in New York through a breakthrough run at the Miami Open last March, a milestone that propelled her into the Top 100 of the world rankings.
Eala will head home with prize money amounting to $154,000.
What’s next for Alex?
The WTA has confirmed that she will join the WTA 250 São Paulo Open in Brazil, which kicks off on September 8, where she is slated to enter as the tournament’s third seed.
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