Alex Eala set for US Open debut after shoulder injury

Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala is set for one of the biggest milestones of her young career as she makes her main draw debut at the US Open, returning to the Grand Slam stage where she first rose to prominence as a junior champion.

Now 20 years old, Eala enters Flushing Meadows with determination, eager to rebound from a left-shoulder injury that forced her to miss recent tournaments and briefly halted her momentum.

The setback came in late July at the Montreal Open, where she required on-court medical treatment before withdrawing. The injury sidelined her from the Cincinnati Open and another event in Mexico, causing her world ranking to dip from a career-high No. 56 to No. 68.

But before the setback, Eala had been enjoying a breakthrough season. She made history earlier this year at Roland Garros, becoming the first Filipino player to earn direct entry into a Grand Slam main draw. 

Tennis: Alex Eala is heading to the US Open https://t.co/nqprNOqPEm

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) August 17, 2025

Soon after, she stunned the tennis world with a dream run to the Eastbourne Open final in England, marking the first time a Filipina reached that stage in a WTA tour-level tournament.

Since then, Eala has been back at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, sharpening her game and completing her recovery. 

The US Open will mark her third Grand Slam main draw appearance of 2025, following early-round exits in Paris and Wimbledon, and she is hungry to finally secure that elusive first win on tennis’ biggest stage.

Her return to New York is especially symbolic. Three years ago, she lifted the 2022 US Open Girls’ Singles trophy, becoming the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles title. 

This time, she comes back not as a junior champion but as a full-fledged pro, ready to carve out her place among the best in the world.

After the US Open, Eala’s schedule remains packed. She is already confirmed for the São Paulo Open in Brazil, a WTA 250 tournament starting September 8, where she will compete as the No. 3 seed behind home favorite Beatriz Haddad Maia and American Hailey Baptiste.

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