Alexandra Eala, 20, delivered a breakthrough moment at the 2025 U.S. Open, upending No. 14 seed Clara Tauson in a gripping three-setter on the Grandstand to become the first Filipino player to win a singles match in a Grand Slam main draw.
The dramatic win came in a match that showcased Eala’s grit and growing poise. She took the first set 6-3, Tauson fought back to claim the second 6-2, and the decider went to a marathon tiebreaker, finishing 7-6 (13-11) after Eala clawed back from a 5-1 deficit. The crowd’s energy was electric as Eala saved five match points along the way, riding the momentum all the way to the finish.
From the stands to the headlines, there was a sense of history. The U.S. Open’s Grandstand sits in Flushing Meadows near Little Manila, a district in Queens with a vibrant Filipino community. After the match, Eala spoke about the pride of her heritage and the feeling of “home” she found among fans supporting her in New York.
Here’s what else you should know about Alexandra Eala as she pursues more history at tennis’s final major of the year:
Rising star with deep ties to Nadal’s academy
– Eala turned 20 in May 2025 and arrived in New York with a world ranking of No. 75. Her career-high ranking reached No. 56 in June 2025.
– A 2023 graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, she started training there at age 12 and joined the facility’s program in 2018 with her brother. Nadal himself congratulated her on social media after her Miami Open triumphs earlier in the year.
– The FilipinoTrail: Eala previously became the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open girls’ championship in 2022, and she was among the first Filipinos to break into the world’s top 100 in the professional ranks earlier this year.
Impressive momentum this season
– Entering the U.S. Open, Eala had already shown she could beat top-20 players, with four wins over players ranked inside that group in 2025.
– Her Miami Open run highlighted her potential, as she defeated a trio of Grand Slam champions—Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek—on her way to the semifinals.
What comes next
– Eala is scheduled to play in the second round on Wednesday, August 27, against the winner of Monday’s match between Claire Liu and Cristina Bucsa.
A broader takeaway and hopeful outlook
– Eala’s upset signals a notable rising trajectory for Filipino tennis on the global stage, reinforcing the impact of the country’s tennis pipeline and the support from communities like the one surrounding the USTA National Center.
– Her breakthrough at a Grand Slam adds to a year of personal milestones, and it positions her as a beacon for young Filipino players aiming to compete with the sport’s best on the sport’s biggest stages.
– If she can continue translating these dramatic results into consistency, she could become a fixture in the second week of majors and a compelling narrative of perseverance and national pride.
Overall, Eala’s win over Tauson is more than a single upset; it’s a landmark moment that mirrors her growing confidence, the strength of her training environment, and a rising tide for Filipino tennis on the world stage. If she sustains this form, expect more headlines as she challenges deeper into the tournament and beyond.