Alexandra Eala, backed up and cheered on by Filipino fans, was down 1-5, and no. 14 seed Clara Tauson was about to run away with a victory.
But the Filipina sensation turned the tables around, and pulled off a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) upset in the first round on Sunday in New York (early Monday morning in Manila).
This gave the 20-year old Eala her first Grand Slam main-draw victory at the 2025 US Open.
Eala weathered an in-form Tauson’s solid game and 12 aces when action ended Grandstand court of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park at Queens.
In a battle that last two hours and 36 minutes, came up with four break points in a long third game to take the lead over the in-form Tauson for 3-2, and got the momentum from there.
But, the 22-year Tauson, unnerved by the energy of the fans which are mostly encouraging Eala, took charge, held a decisive advantage when she won an exchange of breaks to start the second set, 6-2, and was close to a victory of a 5-1 lead in the third.
Filipino fans roared in excitement as Eala picked her way out of a five-game deficit for a 6-5 lead.
Tauson, rattled by the Filipino crowd cheering Eala on, hung on and took three more match points in the ensuing sudden death, 6-all.
Eala then outrallied Tuason for a 13-11 scoreline to take the third set.
In winning the tiebreak, Eala unloaded winners and raced to an 8-4 lead.
As Tauson fought back to claimed the next four points, then Eala took the final point with another winner, sending the Filipino crowd into rowdy celebration.
In advancing to the second round Eala takes on the winner of the contest between Cristina Buçsa and American qualifier Claire Liu.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Eala survives Tauson at 2025 US Open debut.”
