Alexandra Eala of the Philippines reacts against Clara Tauson of Denmark during their Women’s Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Powered by a roaring crowd, Alex Eala dedicated her historic Grand Slam main draw victory in the 2025 US Open to the thousands of Filipino fans cheering for her in New York.
Eala stunned World No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark in an epic comeback in the third set to pull off a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) win in the first round early Monday (Philippine time).
READ: Alex Eala beats Clara Tauson in historic US Open win
Trailing 5-1 in the decider, the 20-year-old Filipino never wavered and played inspired in front of her passionate countrymen at Flushing Meadows, forcing a tiebreak and prevailing after five match points.
“It’s so special. They made me more and more special to be Filipino. It’s something I take so much pride in,” Eala said.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates match point against Clara Tauson of Denmark during their Women’s Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
The crowd was so loud that even Tauson complained twice to the umpire in Set 1. The umpire at one point reminded the fans not to get “too excited” during the point.
Eala became the first Filipino to win a match at a Grand Slam singles tournament in the Open era after first-round exits at French Open and Wimbledon.
The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate also made millions of supporters in the Philippines, who stayed up from midnight until the early morning to watch her game, proud.
HIGHLIGHTS: Alex Eala vs Clara Tauson – US Open 2025 first round
“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 said
Eala gained even more fans since her dream semifinal run in the Miami Open, which made her an outright Grand Slam main draw competitor after barging into the Women’s Tennis Association top 75.
Eala also made history at the same venue in New York when she became the first Filipino singles Grand Slam champion in the 2022 US Open girls.
After booking her first Grand Slam main draw win, Eala remains hungry for more.
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“I’m always in the mood for more history, I mean this match is one for the books for me,” she said.
