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| Alex Eala celebrates after knocking out world number 14 Clara Tauson in her US Open women's division debut. Reuters |
MANILA--Once upon a time, Alex Eala was the princess of the US Open girls division.
Three years after that historic feat, she showed why she already ruled Flushing Meadows before by showing heart down the stretch.
The Philippines' new tennis queen pulled off arguably her biggest come-from-behind win in her young career, eliminating world number 14 Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), in their 2025 women's division opener at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City early Monday (Philippine Time).
Staggered by a total of 12 times by Tauson's aces all match long, Eala found herself on the brink of a blown Set 1 lead as she trailed, 1-5, entering Game 7 of Set 3.
However, Eala waxed hot just when she needed the most, winning the next five games to go up, 6-5, and even made it to match point when she led, 40-30, in Game 12 with Tauson serving.
Tauson, though, saved the break point to send the final set to a supposedly race-to-10 Game 13.
Eala had another chance to finish Tauson off as she raced to an 8-4 lead in the tiebreaker, but the latter fought back to prolong the decider.
With the tiebreaker at an 11-all deadlock, Eala scored a return point to set up match point with her service, and a powerful forehand swing forced Tauson to rush back to her right side, only to have her return shot sail out.
Eala became the first Filipino tennis player of any gender to win a singles match in the seniors division of a Grand Slam event in the open era.
The world number 75 racket expert will face the winner of the clash between world number 95 Cristina Bucsa and Claire Liu in the next round on Wednesday.
