The chants of “Let’s go, Alex!” were still ringing inside Arthur Ashe Stadium when Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala learned who her next opponent would be. After surviving a thrilling three-set opener, the 20-year-old is now set for a second-round clash with Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, the world No. 95, at the US Open.
Bucsa earned her spot in the matchup by breezing past American qualifier Claire Liu in just over an hour, 6-2, 6-1. On paper, Eala, ranked 75th in the world, enters the contest as the slight favorite. But anyone familiar with Bucsa knows she is no easy hurdle. At 27, the Spaniard already has an Olympic bronze medal in doubles from Paris 2024, seven WTA doubles titles, and the experience of upsetting big names such as 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Singles may not be her strongest track record, but her form in New York suggests she’s not here just to make up the numbers.
For Eala, however, the moment feels bigger than numbers and rankings. Her opening-round victory over No. 14 seed Clara Tauson was more than just a tennis result—it was history. By clawing back from a 5-1 deficit in the third set tiebreak and pulling off a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11) win, Eala became the first Filipina woman to capture a singles victory at a Grand Slam in the Open Era. The emotions were written on her face as the final point sealed the match and thousands of Filipino fans in the stands erupted into cheers.
“It felt like home,” Eala admitted afterward, her voice cracking as she addressed the crowd. Roughly 90 percent of the 8,000 fans inside the court were waving Philippine flags, chanting in Tagalog, and roaring with every point she won. For a player without a true “home” Slam, that support has turned Flushing Meadows into something special. “I don’t have a home tournament, so having this support means everything,” she added.
The second-round clash with Bucsa carries echoes of their past. Four years ago, a younger Eala faced the Spaniard in a three-set battle and clawed her way back from a set down to win. It was a scrappy triumph that stuck in her memory. “I’m always in the mood for more history,” Eala said earlier this week and she’ll need that same fighting spirit against an opponent who thrives on grit and doubles sharpness.
The stakes are high. A win would put Eala into the round of 32, marking another milestone in her young career, and secure a prize purse jump from $154,000 (₱8.7 million) to $237,000 (₱13.4 million). Beyond the financial boost, it’s another step in a summer that already feels like a dream for Philippine tennis.
One more match. Another shot at history. And if the atmosphere from round one is any indication, Alex Eala won’t be stepping onto that court the court alone.