Alex Eala moves a win away from US Open main draw

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala is competing in the 2024 US Open qualifying, looking to make it to the main draw. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala inched a win closer to her first main draw appearance in a Grand Slam tournament as a pro after advancing to the final qualifying round of the US Open.

Eala withstood a neck-and-neck duel against Spanish Nuria Parrizas Diaz, 7-5, 7-5, in the US Open second round of qualifiers early Thursday morning (Manila time) in New York.

The 19-year-old Filipino bet then battles Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania in the final round of qualifiers on Friday at 1:35 a.m. (Manila time), hoping to enter her first main draw in a Grand Slam tournament as a pro.

READ: Alex Eala inches closer to US Open main draw

Eala got the better of Diaz, currently Women’s Tennis Association world No.99, after being tied at 5-5 in both sets. Eala broke her opponent’s serve to take the advantage before nailing the finishing points in both sets.

Moments before the match, Eala expressed his gratitude for the support of the Filipinos in her bid to reach the US Open main draw.

“Minsan-minsan lang ako naglalaro sa ganitong klaseng atmosphere. Napakaswerte ko na naranasan ang suporta ng mga Pinoy dito sa New York. Maraming salamat mga kababayan! Tuloy ang laban mamayang hapon,” she wrote on Instagram.

READ: Alex Eala excited ahead of first US Open campaign as a pro

Making it to the main draw has been elusive for Eala as she missed a chance in the Wimbledon and French Open.

The World No.144 Filipino opened her campaign with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 win over Maddison Inglis of Australia in the first round.

Eala became the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam title in the singles division, ruling the US Open girls’ tournament two years ago. She won two in doubles in the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open in the juniors division.