WIN OR LOSE, Alexandra “Alex” Eala is already guaranteed to bring home a $154,000 or roughly P8.7-million money prize.
But money just isn’t on the table for now as she sets her sights on eking out way more invaluable feats within the second round of the 2025 US Open against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa on the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Latest York.
Ms. Eala, 20, drew the 27-year-old Spanish within the Round of 64 starting Tuesday after the latter’s 6-2, 6-1 trashing of qualifier Claire Liu from america in their very own first-round duel.
Game time remains to be to-be-determined together with the court designation in Flushing Meadows however the “ambitious” Eala is raring to go on the heels of a rousing 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) win over world No. 15 Clara Tauson from Denmark.
The unseeded Eala showed nerves of steel in front of an 8,000-strong, pro-Filipino crowd, battling back from a 1-5 deficit within the third set to eliminate the grizzled Tauson, who’s also seeded 14th within the stacked 128-player field.
“They weren’t kidding after they said this was the town of dreams. All sights set on the second round,” said Ms. Eala, who became the primary Filipino in history to win within the principal draw of any Grand Slam.
“I might say that anything is feasible. Dream big. Me as an individual, I’m very ambitious although nobody from my country who did this before and was successful. I took inspiration from anyone I could, from my family and my brother. It’s simply to be ambitious, to dream big and know that you could do it.”
The ambition now can also be to turn into the primary Filipino to achieve a second round of any Grand Slam tournament ever with a well-recognized opponent in Ms. Bucsa standing in her way.
Ms. Eala, the 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion, ranks barely higher within the singles rankings at No. 75 over No. 95 Ms. Bucsa however the Spanish veteran boasts immense expertise within the doubles as world No. 35 with 21 pro titles in her pocket.
Ms. Bucsa also won a bronze medal for Spain with partner Sara Sorribes Tormo within the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s doubles to carry an experience advantage over the Filipina rising star.
A scholar graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain as well, Ms. Eala nevertheless beat Ms. Bucsa of their first and only encounter thus far back within the 2021 W25 Grenoble in France, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8).
One other win by Ms. Eala would set her up against either world No. 31 Elise Mertens of Belgium or No. 164 Lulu Sun of Latest Zealand within the third round.
It gets tougher for Ms. Eala from there with the titans of the sports in No. 1 and reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka, No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, No. 8 Jasmine Paolini and No. 10 Elena Rybakina waiting for her in a loaded bracket.
Ms. Eala assured one thing though, she’s ready and “ambitious” to defy the percentages anew. — John Bryan Ulanday