Who Is Alexandra Eala? Filipino Teen Makes US Open History With Thrilling Comeback Win

NEW YORK—With an electrifying straight-sets win over Denmark’s Clara Tauson on Day 1 of the 2025 US Open, 20-year-old Alexandra Eala became the first Filipino tennis player ever to record a main-draw victory at a Grand Slam tournament. The historic breakthrough at Flushing Meadows has thrust the Manila-born left-hander into global headlines and ignited fresh hopes of a deep run in New York. Eala entered the season’s final major ranked No. 75 in the world—just shy of her career-high No. 56 achieved in June after a surprise run to the Eastbourne Open final, her first on the WTA Tour. That Eastbourne surge signaled the payoff of years of training at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, where coaches honed the aggressive topspin forehand and heavy lefty serve that proved decisive against Tauson. “I take so much pride in representing my country,” Eala said after sealing the 6-4, 7-5 victory, her voice cracking as Filipino fans waved flags in Louis Armstrong Stadium. “Hearing the crowd shout ‘Puso!’ (heart) gave me extra energy in the tight moments.” The significance back home cannot be overstated. Tennis has long taken a back seat to basketball and boxing in the Philippines, yet viewership for Eala’s opener spiked across streaming platforms, and local sponsors rushed to amplify her #EalaEverywhere social-media hashtag. Philippine sports officials confirmed plans to fly a contingent to New York should she reach the tournament’s second week. Standing between Eala and that milestone is world No. 38 Peyton Stearns, a powerful baseliner who upset 2023 champion Emma Raducanu in the first round. A win would guarantee Eala at least $180,000 in prize money—nearly half of her career earnings to date—and could propel her inside the WTA Top 60 before the Asian swing. Analysts point to two stats that bode well: Eala’s break-point conversion rate has climbed from 41 percent in 2024 to 55 percent this season, and she now wins 67 percent of points on her first serve, up seven points year-on-year. Coupled with her newfound willingness to finish points at the net—a tactic sharpened during mixed-doubles sessions with fellow Nadal Academy alum Casper Ruud—Eala has evolved from junior prodigy to bona fide tour threat. Off the court, the 5'9" southpaw exudes the same authenticity that endeared her to Filipino fans when she captured the 2022 US Open girls’ crown. She still travels with her mom Rizza, a former national swimmer, and keeps a handwritten gratitude journal that lists “siopao” and “isaw” among her comfort foods on the road. Endorsement deals with a Southeast Asian telecom giant and a Spanish athletic-wear brand have followed, positioning her as one of Asia’s most marketable young athletes. Whether or not the Philippine flag will fly deep into the second week, Alexandra Eala has already made history in Queens—and according to the player herself, she is “in the mood for more”. For a nation of 110 million longing for its first tennis superstar, the journey may have only just begun.