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–Alex Eala continued to make history on the courts of New York.
Eala took down World No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark in an epic first-round battle in the 2025 US Open, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), early Monday (Philippine time).
LIVE: Alex Eala vs Clara Tauson – US Open 2025 first round
She became the first Filipino to win a match at a Grand Slam singles tournament in the Open era, ending her string of first-round exits since entering the main draws.
Eala also won her first Grand Slam in the juniors division at Flushing Meadows when she ruled the 2022 US Open girls singles tournament.
The Filipino tennis ace, ranked 75th in the world, showcased grit like no other as she battled back from a 5-1 deficit in the deciding third set to force the tiebreak.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns 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
Buoyed by the predominantly Filipino crowd at the Grandstand court, Eala powered her way through tiebreak, even with the big-hitting Tauson erasing her 8-4 advantage.
After four match points, Eala finally got her breakthrough as she slumped to the court in tears.
READ: Alex Eala feels ‘so blessed’ to represent Filipinos in US Open
“It was so, so difficult. I was so happy I was able to dig deep and push the limit, physically and mentally. This was it,” Eala said during her oncourt interview.
Eala acknowledged the crowd that filled the stadium to the brim, giving her a massive boost against a tough opponent like Tauson, who has already won three WTA titles at age 22.
“It’s so special. They [the crowd] make me more and more special to be a Filipino. It’s something I take so much pride in,” Eala said.
‘IT’S YOUR MOMENT, ALEXANDRA EALA!’ 🇵🇭
WATCH: Alex Eala’s winning serve against World No. 15 Clara Tauson, winning her first round at the US Open! | 🎥: US Open/X
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Eala started out the match swinging, breaking Tauson’s serve twice in the first set to win, 6-3. But Tauson, after complaining twice to the umpire about the noise from the crowd during the point in Set 1, found her footing and composure to tie the match.
Tauson continued her onslaught in the deciding set, winning five straight games to move within the cusp of advancing before Eala slowly but surely chipped away at Tauson’s lead with five unanswered wins to even take the lead, 6-5, before the tiebreak.
This was Eala’s third straight match that went the distance since making the main draw of the Grand Slams after her French Open and Wimbledon debuts, but she made sure to flip the script this time around.
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And she’s looking to make more history as she advances to the second round.
“I’m always in the mood for more history. This match is one for the books for me,” Eala said.