Scoring four points off five breaks in the second set, world no. 93 Cristina Bucsa prevailed in her second clash with Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala (6-4, 6-3) in the second round of the US Open 2025 in New York on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
This allowed Bucsa to get back at Eala four years after they last fought in France.
Eala fell after an 82-minute clash with Bucsa, a Moldovan-born Spanish player, who saw action in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
As a consolation, Eala went home with prize money worth $154,000 or around P8.799-million, one of her biggest payouts this season.
Eala went down in Grand Slam history as the first Filipina netter to reach the second round during the Open Era.
The 27-year old Bucsa, a bronze medalist in the Paris Games, had three aces and picked up 30 points off 46 first serves.
She and Eala last met at the ITF/Tennis Europe event in Grenoble, France in February 2021, with the Filipina winning over Bucsa in the second round.
The 20-year old Eala came off a dramatic and resounding 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) upset of 14th seed Clara Tauson in the first round.
A packed crowd once again cheered for Eala, who was held to 10 of 21 unforced errors in the final set.
After Eala forced a final tie (3-all), she held on in the next three games, but Bucsa had her final break in the ninth game following a deuce.
