Filipino tennis star Alex Eala aims for world No. 1 ranking and Grand Slam glory

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala carved her name into the history books at the 2025 US Open, becoming the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open Era. The 20-year-old stunned the tennis world in Flushing Meadows with a gutsy first-round upset over world No. 14 Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6, in a thrilling three-set battle.

Her historic run, however, ended in the second round after falling to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, 6-4, 6-3. Despite the loss, Eala earned widespread praise for her fearless play and determination at such a young age.

For Eala, the milestone marks only the beginning of her journey toward even greater ambitions.

“I have always been very ambitious, from when I was young. Everybody’s dream is to become world No. 1 and to win Grand Slams,” she said in a recent interview. “The better I get, the more I see how hard it is to achieve that. But my belief is so strong, so my goals are exactly that—to be No. 1 and to win Slams. More than that, it’s just to reach my full potential.”

The Filipina ace reflected on how far she has come, recalling the struggles of competing in makeshift local tournaments before breaking through internationally.

🇵🇭 ALEX EALA: The winning mindset , Takeaways from the Us Open 2025

Catching up with Alex before she leaves for Mexico! So mature and insightful ❤️ Always looking to work harder to improve & better her game pic.twitter.com/JfcOU1gFRE

— Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) August 29, 2025

“Sometimes when I achieve something big, I like to look back with my family and see how far we have come—from traveling to all the provinces in the Philippines where the courts are cracked, the fences are broken, you have to compete in half basketball courts, half volleyball courts,” Eala shared.

That sense of gratitude fuels her drive, and her support system continues to play a vital role in her rise.

“From my dad, he always tells me not to doubt. No doubt. That’s something I have tried to emulate in everything. To believe in myself is a super important aspect, because for me, if you believe in yourself, then you’re giving yourself a chance. If you don’t believe, then you will have no chance at succeeding at all,” she added.

With the US Open behind her, Eala will take a short break before returning to action at the São Paulo Open in Brazil, scheduled for September 8 to 14.

At just 20 years old, the trailblazing Filipina has already made history—but her sights remain firmly set on the biggest stages of tennis, with dreams of becoming world No. 1 and bringing home a Grand Slam title for the Philippines.

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