August 27, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Win or lose, Alex Eala is assured to carry house $154,000 or roughly P8.7 million in money prize.
However cash definitely isn’t on the desk for now as she units her sights on eking out much more invaluable feats within the second spherical of the 2025 US Open in opposition to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in New York.
Eala, 20, drew the 27-year-old Spanish within the Spherical of 64 right now after the latter’s 6-2, 6-1 trashing of qualifier Claire Liu from the USA in their very own first-round duel.
Recreation time continues to be to be decided together with the courtroom designation in Flushing Meadows however the “formidable” Eala is unquestionably raring to go for extra and additional breakthrough 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 confirmed nerves of metal in entrance of an 8,000-strong, pro-Filipino crowd, battling again from a 1-5 deficit within the third set to eradicate the grizzled Tauson, who’s seeded 14th within the 128-player discipline.
“They weren’t kidding once they mentioned this was the town of desires. All sights set on the second spherical,” mentioned Eala, who grew to become the primary Filipina in historical past to win a match in the primary draw of any Grand Slam.
“I’d say that something is feasible. Dream massive. Me as an individual, I’m very formidable though nobody from my nation who did this earlier than and was profitable. I took inspiration from anybody I may, from my household and my brother. It’s simply to be formidable, to dream massive and know that you are able to do it.”
The ambition now can be to develop into the primary Filipino to achieve the third spherical of any Grand Slam match ever with a well-recognized opponent in Bucsa standing in her approach.
If she will get previous Busca, the ante goes as much as $237,000 (roughly P13.2 million) in assured purse. The winner right here will get a staggering $5 million.
Eala, the 2022 US Open ladies’ singles champion, ranks barely increased within the singles rankings at No. 75 over No. 95 Bucsa however the Spanish veteran boasts immense experience within the doubles as world No. 35 with 21 professional titles in her pocket.
Bucsa additionally received a bronze medal for Spain with accomplice Sara Sorribes Tormo within the 2024 Paris Olympics girls’s doubles to carry an expertise benefit over the Filipina rising star.
A scholar graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain as properly, Eala, nevertheless, beat Bucsa of their first and solely encounter to this point again within the 2021 W25 Grenoble in France, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8).
