“TO be Filipino is something I take so much pride in.”
With those words, Alex Eala let the weight of history sink in under the bright lights of New York after a sensational comeback against world No. 14 Clara Tauson in her opening singles match at the 2025 US Open on Monday morning (Manila time).
READ Alex Eala pulls off dramatic US Open comeback vs Clara Tauson
In a match that stretched to two hours and 36 minutes, the 20-year-old fought back from a 1-5 third-set deficit and needed five match points before finally clinching what no Filipino had ever done before — winning a main draw match at a grand slam.
“It’s so special. They [Filipino fans] make me more and more special,” Eala said, her voice echoing through the stadium at Flushing Meadows as a sea of kababayans that came out to support her in the first-round match roared back.
“I don’t have a home tournament, so to be able to have this community here at the US Open, I’m so grateful that they made me feel like I’m home.”
For Eala, the breakthrough was more than just a win. It was a moment that showcased national pride as she added another milestone on a breakout year highlighted by her run to the semifinals at the Miami Open last March.
“I’m always in the mood for more history,” Eala, who won the US Open juniors title in these same courts in 2022, said with a smile. “This match is one for the books for me.”
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