Alexandra Eala, 20, upset No. 14 seed Clara Tauson in a thrilling three-set match.
Eala is a 2023 graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy and is a former junior Grand Slam champion.
She entered the 2025 U.S. Open ranked No. 75 in the world.
There’s a new underdog story to monitor in the 2025 U.S. Open women’s singles bracket.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines made history Sunday on the Grandstand court in Flushing Meadows, upsetting No. 14 seed Clara Tauson in the opening round of this year’s tournament to become the first Filipino player to win a singles match in the main draw at a Grand Slam event. Eala defeated Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), overcoming a 5-1 deficit in the final set before winning the match in a dramatic tiebreaker that featured five match points and plenty of crowd support for Eala.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which hosts the U.S. Open each year, is near an area of Queens known as Little Manila with a large Filipino community.
‘To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in,’ Eala said after the match. ‘And you know, I don’t have a home tournament, so to be able to have this community here at the U.S. Open, I’m so grateful that they made me feel like I’m home.’
Here’s what else to know about Alexandra Eala as she continues her quest to make more history at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year:
Alexandra Eala age
Alexandra Eala turned 20 years old in May 2025.
Alexandra Eala, Rafael Nadal tennis connection
Alexandra Eala is considered a rising star in the women’s tennis ranks, with four wins over top-20 players this year after her upset of Tauson. She also defeated three Grand Slam champions in a row ‒ Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek ‒ during a run to the semifinals at the Miami Open in March.
Eala is a 2023 graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. She arrived in 2018 to train with her brother, according to the facility’s website. She began training with the program, which was founded by its namesake and 22-time Grand Slam winner, as a 12-year-old. Nadal congratulated Eala on social media following her wins in Miami earlier this year.
Eala was already the first Filipino player to win a junior Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open girls’ championship in 2022, and she became the first Filipino to be ranked inside the top 100 in the world earlier this year. She made her professional debut in 2020.
Alexandra Eala ranking
Alexandra Eala entered the 2025 U.S. Open ranked No. 75 in the WTA tennis rankings. Her career high ranking is No. 56, which she achieved in June 2025.
Alexandra Eala next match at U.S. Open
Alexandra Eala is scheduled to face the winner of Monday’s first-round match between American Claire Liu and Cristina Bucsa in the U.S. Open second round on Wednesday, August 27.