Alex Eala thanks Filipino community for support in US Open win

On one of the biggest stages of her young career, Alex Eala didn't exactly feel like a stranger.

The Filipina tennis star pulled off a nail-biting 6-3, 2-6, 7(13)-6(11) victory over world No. 14 Clara Tauson of Denmark in the first round of the US Open early Monday, becoming the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam main draw match in the Open Era.

And yet, for the 20-year-old Eala, the milestone felt like it was achieved right at home.

She expressed gratitude to the Filipino supporters and fans who cheered her on throughout the grueling match that lasted two hours and 36 minutes, turning Flushing Meadows into what felt like her own home court.

"It’s so special. They make me more and more special. To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in," Eala said.

"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 at home."

Eala pulled off a major upset after overcoming a huge 5-1 deficit in the third set, winning the next five games before the Danish bet forced a deadlock. Eala then held her ground in the tiebreak to topple the 14th seed and march onto the second round. 

She will face the winner of the match between Spain's Cristina Bucsa and American Claire Liu in the next round.

Eala isn’t new to the US Open as she first made her mark in 2022 when she captured the girls’ singles crown, a breakthrough in her then budding juniors career.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News