The pride of the Philippines, Alex Eala, made history after an epic 3-set comeback win against Clara Tauson in the 1st Round of the US Open 2025 earlier today, August 25.
Came Back from a 5-1 Deficit in Set 3 to Capture the Historical Victory
In the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark faced the No. 75 Alex Eala from the Philippines in a much-awaited 1st Round match.
And their battle didn’t disappoint all the fans watching in New York City.
Tauson, ranked inside the world’s top 20 and one of the tour’s most powerful servers, looked sharp at the start, blasting her way to a 1-0 lead. Eala, however, quickly settled, exchanging baseline blows and producing four break points in the third game.
Although Tauson escaped with clutch serving, Eala soon seized control. Breaking in the fifth game and consolidating with steady baseline aggression, she surged to 4-2 before holding her composure to clinch the opening set in just 41 minutes.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 1: 6-3
“The Dane” answered with authority in the second set. Finding her rhythm in the rallies and unleashing a barrage of aces, Tauson broke early and pulled away with a win, leaving the pro-Eala crowd temporarily silenced.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 2: 6-2
As the deciding set began, Tauson appeared firmly in command, firing her way to a commanding 5-1 advantage with 12 aces in total across the match.
But Eala refused to bow out. Backed by chants and flag-waving Filipinos in the stands, she mounted a stirring comeback, winning four straight games to pull level at 5-5. The Filipina then held serve for a 6-5 edge, though Tauson forced a tiebreak to decide the contest.
In the breaker, Eala stormed ahead 8-4, only for Tauson to claw back point by point, erasing multiple match points and leveling at 11-all. Still, the young Filipina held her ground.
On her fifth match point, she finally sealed victory when Tauson’s return flew long, collapsing to the court in relief before celebrating with the roaring crowd. The dramatic duel lasted two hours and 36 minutes.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 3: 7(13)-6(11)
Alexandra “the Great” Eala
Just like the Macedonian king Alexander, Filipina Alexandra Eala carved her name not only in the world of tennis but also in the overall legacy of Philippine sports.
“Oh my god. It was so, so difficult. She’s a huge player, she’s a great player, and definitely not an easy draw for a first round,” Eala said afterward.
“But I’m so happy that I was able to dig deep. I was just thinking to push the limit, like physically, mentally, this was it.”
Her triumph made her the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam main draw match in the Open era, which began in 1968 when professionals were first allowed to compete.
“I had to dig deep, mentally and physically. I’m just so happy to take this win,” she added, also thanking the Filipino fans whose chants carried her through the comeback.
“Uy, Philippines!”
Alex Eala also thanked and acknowledged her Filipino fans as she gave her post-game interview.
“To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in,” she said after an exhausting 3-set battle.
“It’s so special. They [Filipino fans] make me more and more special. 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,” she added.
“I’m always in the mood for more history, and this match is one for the books for me.”
The win not only allowed Eala to advance to the second round of the tournament, but also made her the only Filipina to accomplish such an achievement.
Up Next: 2nd Round Match Versus No. 95 Cristina Bucsa or No. 371 Claire Liu
For Tauson, the loss ended her bid to reach the second round in New York for the third straight year. The Dane’s 12 aces were undone by costly errors, including six double faults, which were all coming in the final set.
Eala, meanwhile, will take a 1 day rest as she prepares to face the winner between Spain’s No. 95 Cristina Bucsa and the United States’ No. 371 Claire Liu.
The 2nd Round match of Eala in the US Open is set to happen on August 27, Wednesday (Philippine Date) with the time still to be determined.
