Cristina Bucsa or Claire Liu? Meet Alex Eala’s possible next US Open foe

Fresh off her historic debut win, Philippine bet Alex Eala braces for her next US Open test against either Spain’s Cristina Bucsa or American Claire Liu in the second round.

The Filipina, at No. 75 in the world, is currently ranked higher than either competitor with Bucsa at No. 95 and Liu at No. 371, but that in no way guarantees an easy path for the Philippine ace.

Bucsa, a 27-year-old Spanish standout, competed in a number of Grand Slams over the past five years while the 25-year-old Liu is playing in her seventh US Open appearance.

Bucsa carries Olympic pedigree, having won a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Games doubles event with partner Sara Sorribes Tormo. Bucsa and Tormo also teamed up to rule the 2024 Madrid Open doubles contest. 

Bucsa saw action in the first three Grand Slam events this year, reaching the third and second rounds of Wimbledon and Australian Open, respectively, and sustaining an early first-round loss in the French Open.

According to the WTA website, Eala and Bucsa have faced off in singles competition once before, a match in the W25 Grenoble back in 2021 that the Filipina won, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(8).

Liu, on the other hand, is aiming for a breakthrough after suffering four straight first-round exits at the US Open from 2020 to 2023. She was the 2017 Wimbledon girls’ singles champion and has reached as high as No. 52 as her career-high ranking.

Liu advanced from the women’s qualifying rounds, defeating Katarzyna Kawa, Maddison Inglis, and Veronika Erjavec to enter the US Open main draw.

Bucsa and Liu are set to clash early Tuesday, with the winner earning a second-round date against Eala.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News