Philippine tennis legend Cecil Mamiit lauds Alex Eala following her historic 2025 US Open win

Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala has cemented her place as one of Southeast Asia’s brightest rising stars after a historic run at the 2025 US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York.

The 20-year-old made history by becoming the first Filipina to score a singles victory in a Grand Slam main draw during the Open Era, pulling off a stunning upset against world No. 14 Clara Tauson of Denmark.

Eala rallied from a 1-5 deficit in the deciding set to claim a dramatic 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 triumph, electrifying the crowd of more than 8,000 fans inside Court 7. The raucous support for the Filipina reportedly rattled Tauson, who even voiced her frustrations to the referee over the distractions.

The breakthrough victory marked Eala’s first time advancing to the second round of a Grand Slam, following first-round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year. In 2023 and 2024, she also fell short of the main draw after the qualifying rounds.

Notably, Eala is no stranger to Flushing Meadows glory—she captured the US Open girls’ singles title in 2022, becoming the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam event.

The Philippines’ very own Cecil Mamiit on Alex Eala’s historic main draw performance at the #USOpen 🎾

“I think she’s doing really well being aggressive, being active, young. I think that the biggest thing is her will, fighting spirit.” pic.twitter.com/72LSQLmQCp

— Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) August 26, 2025

Philippine tennis trailblazer Cecil Mamiit, a former world No. 72 who represented the country in multiple Grand Slams and remained undefeated in Davis Cup play until 2008, hailed Eala’s resilience.

“Her win shows she’s building her grit and resilience—her fight on the Grand Slam stage,” said Mamiit. “It’s about development, but she’s doing really well—being aggressive, being active, and showing that youthful energy. The biggest thing is her fighting spirit.”

Mamiit, who understands the weight of expectations that comes with carrying Philippine tennis, believes Eala has all the tools to leave her mark on the sport.

“She’s carving her own path and building her own identity,” he said. “For me, I never made it to the second week of a Slam. That’s something she can take advantage of and gain from. It’s about persistence, working on her game, and most of all, having self-belief. That’s what carries you through.”

With the hopes of a nation behind her, Eala now looks ahead to a second-round showdown against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa on Thursday morning, August 28 (Philippine time), determined to extend her historic US Open journey.

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