HIGHLIGHTS: Alex Eala vs Clara Tauson – US Open 2025 first round

• Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala makes her US Open 2025 main draw debut against Clara Tauson of Denmark in the first round of the last Grand Slam competition of the year.

Alex Eala gets home match feel from Filipino crowd at US Open

MANILA, Philippines — Powered by a roaring crowd, Alex Eala dedicated her historic Grand Slam main draw victory in the 2025 US Open to the thousands of Filipino fans cheering for her in New York.

Eala stunned World No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark in an epic comeback in the third set to pull off a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) win in the first round early Monday (Philippine time).

Trailing 5-1 in the decider, the 20-year-old Filipino never wavered and played inspired in front of her passionate countrymen at Flushing Meadows, forcing a tiebreak and prevailing after five match points.

“I don’t have a home tournament so to be able to have this community here at the US Open. I’m so grateful that they made me feel like I’m home,” Eala said

Alex Eala beats Clara Tauson in historic US Open win

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala continued to make history on the courts of New York.

Eala took down World No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark in an epic first-round battle in the 2025 US Open, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), early Monday (Philippine time).

She becomes the first Filipino woman to win a match at a Grand Slam singles tournament in the Open era, ending her string of first-round exits since entering the main draws.

'IT'S YOUR MOMENT, ALEXANDRA EALA!' 🇵🇭

WATCH: Alex Eala's winning serve against World No. 15 Clara Tauson, winning her first round at the US Open! | 🎥: US Open/X

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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) August 24, 2025

LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Clara Tauson

WATCH: After a grueling battle with Clara Tauson, Alex Eala pulled off a hard-fought win in the first round, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. | @elton_lugay

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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) August 24, 2025

• Alex Eala beats World no. 15 Carla Tauson, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), to win her first round assignment in the US Open! This is her first ever win in the Grand Slam main draw.
• Alex Eala at match point again, 12-11.
• But Clara Tauson not going down without a fight as she evens the tiebreak at 8-8.
• Alex Eala with a 8-4 lead in the tiebreak.
• 3-1 lead for Alex Eala in the 10-point tiebreak.
• Clara Tauson ties Set 3 at 6-6. We got to the tiebreak!

WATCH: The crowd roared as Alex Eala scored again, edging closer in the third set of her Round 1 match. Tauson still led 6-3, 2-6, 4-5, but Eala kept the fight alive with 25 winners against Tauson’s 36. | @elton_lugay

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• Alex Eala, early down by four games, has taken the lead 6-5.
• Alex Eala ties Set 3 at 5-5!
• Alex Eala holds and she’s down by just one, 5-4.
• Back to back games for Alex Eala as she pulls within 5-3.
• Alex Eala saves a set, but still trailing 5-2.
• Clara Tauson continues to dominate here in the decider. She is a game away from advancing to the second round.
• Double break for Clara Tauson in Set 3 for a 4-1 lead against Alex Eala.
• Now a 3-1 lead for Clara Tauson in the final set.
• Clara Tauson breaks serve to pull ahead 2-1 in Set 3.
• Clara Tauson ends the second game with an ace to tie Set 3 at 1-1.
• Alex Eala bounces back and takes the first game, 1-0, in Set 3.
• The World No. 15 from Denmark regains her form in Set 2 to force a decider, 6-2.
• Clara Tauson closing in on a third set after going up 5-2 in Set 2.
• Clara Tauson holds serve again for a 4-2 advantage against Alex Eala.
• Alex Eala gets a point, but still trails Clara Tauson, 3-2, in Set 2.
• Clara Tauson holds serve for a 3-1 edge. She is looking to force a third set against Alex Eala.
• Three consecutive breaks in Set 2. Tauson breaks back to take the lead again, 2-1.
• Alex Eala breaks back to tie Set 2 at 1-1.
• Clara Tauson opens Set 2 strong to take a 1-0 lead.

Alex Eala is showing great skill and stamina at theUS Open, taking the first set 6-3 against Clara Tauson. | @elton_lugay

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• Alex Eala breaks serve again to take Set 1, 6-3.
• Umpire reminds the crowd not to get “too excited” during the point after Tuason complains about the cheers again.
• Alex Eala rallies in the eighth game to take a 5-3 advantage in the first set.
• Clara Tauson bounces back to pull within 4-3 in Set 1.
• Alex Eala goes up 4-2, sealing the game with a drop shot.
• Alex Eala breaks Tauson to take a 3-2 lead in Set 1.
• Clara Tauson not happy about the noise from the crowd during the point.
• Alex Eala holds serve and ties the set at 2-2.
• Clara Tauson saves four break points to go up 2-1 in Set 1.
• Loud cheers for Alex Eala with a number of Filipino fans present at the Grandstand court.

LOOK: Now underway – Eala vs Tauson | @elton_lugay

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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) August 24, 2025

• Alex Eala holds serve and ties the first set at 1-1.
• Tauson wins the first game of the first set.

• First round match between Alex Eala and Clara Tauson about to begin.

LOOK: Minutes away from Filipina tennis star Alex Eala’s U.S. Open main-draw singles match against Denmark’s Clara Tauson at the Grandstand, which seats 8,125. | @elton_lugay

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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) August 24, 2025

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SCHEDULE: Alex Eala at US Open 2025 first round

August 25, Monday (PH time)

• 1:50am (estimated) – Alex Eala vs Clara Tauson

Leylah Fernandez praises Alex Eala for inspiring Filipino youth

NEW YORK — The first time Leylah Fernandez crossed paths with Alex Eala, it marked the start of a connection beyond tennis — one shaped by shared heritage and mutual respect.  

“Alex is an amazing player,” Fernandez told Inquirer.net USA in a sit-down interview Saturday at the US Open media center. “Earlier this year, I didn’t get the chance to really talk to her, but we always cross paths. We always say hi.” 

For Fernandez, the Canadian left-hander who stormed to the US Open final in 2021, Eala stands out not only as a fellow southpaw but also as an athlete whose intensity and focus never fail to impress.  

Venus Williams to Alex Eala: ‘Just enjoy yourself’ at US Open 2025

NEW YORK — Tennis legend Venus Williams urged rising star Alex Eala to embrace the joy of competition as she prepares for her US Open main draw debut.

In a press conference Saturday ahead of her historic return to Flushing Meadows, Williams shared her advice for Eala.

“Just enjoy yourself. When you’re having fun, things are easy. When you’re not, it’s not as much fun. You have to put the fun first,” Williams said when asked by Inquirer.net USA what she would advise Eala on the eve of her opening-round match at the 2025 US Open.

Alex Eala feels ‘so blessed’ to represent Filipinos in US Open 2025

NEW YORK – Alex Eala knows how much her US Open debut means, not just to her career, but to the millions of Filipinos following her journey on one of tennis’ grandest stages.

Beyond personal milestones, Eala draws motivation from representing her country.

“This is one of the biggest stages in tennis,” Eala told Inquirer.net USA in an exclusive interview at the Arthur Ashe Stadium media center in Queens, New York, on Friday. “To have that rep for people back home, to feel that representation, I like to think it’s something super positive. I’m so blessed.”

Alex Eala faces World No. 15 Clara Tauson in US Open opener

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala makes her US Open women’s main draw debut against Clara Tauson of Denmark at USTA Billie Jean Tennis Center in Queens, New York.

Eala faces an acid test in the first round against the World No.15, who won three Women’s Tennis Association titles at age 22.

Tauson recently reached the semifinal of the Canadian Open after upsetting second seed Iga Swiatek of Poland in the Round of 16 and former Grand Slam champion Madison Keys in the quarterfinal.

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