MANILA, Philippines — One year ago today (August 25, 2025 in Manila), Alex Eala mounted an epic comeback to stun world No. 14 Clara Tauson, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), in the US Open first round at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Grandstand Court in New York.
Ranked No. 70 at the time, the Filipino ace came back from 1-5 down in the third set to become the first Philippine player to win a singles main draw match at a Grand Slam in the Open Era much to the deight of the boisterous Filipino crowd at the venue.
The match was also fondly remembered for Eala being caught on camera allegedly hurling the crispy Filipino swear word.
It was a celebratory and relieving moment for now world No. 18 Eala, who just scored on a volley at the net that put her up 40-15 in the 10th game of the third set, where she was on the cusp of tying the game at 5-5.
Tauson requested a video review to check if Eala's racket had crossed the net, but the umpire upheld the call in Eala’s favor.
Eala went on to win the next game for a 6-5 cushion but Tauson held serve to send the match into a 10-point deciding tiebreak.
Eala zoomed to an 8-4 lead in the tiebreak and eventually sealed the match on her fifth match point opportunity.
