Alex Eala will have one final chance this season to advance past the opening round of a Grand Slam when she makes her historic main draw debut at the US Open on Sunday, August 24, facing world No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark.
The 20-year-old Eala became the first Filipino to compete in the singles main draw of a Grand Slam in the Open Era, having played earlier this year at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
However, she fell in three sets in the first round of both tournaments.
This time, the rising Filipina star should feel more confident.
Her familiarity with the hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center could give her an edge in the final Grand Slam event of 2025.
Flushing Meadows is where Eala captured the US Open girls’ singles title in 2022, a testament to her comfort on these courts.
Alexandra Eala becomes first Filipina to win a junior Grand Slam singles title at the 2022 US Open
Several factors, however, could determine whether Eala can finally claim her first Grand Slam main draw victory.
First, she is coming off a period of inactivity.
After losing in the opening round of the WTA National Bank Canadian Open to 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic on July 27, Eala experienced shoulder discomfort.
Her team decided to skip the next two preparatory tournaments, and she returned to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain to recover and train for four weeks.
Second, her opponent is enjoying arguably the best season of her professional career.
Tauson, 22, has reached a career-high ranking after a series of impressive performances this year.
She began 2025 by claiming the WTA 250 ASB Classic title in Auckland, New Zealand, defeating three Grand Slam champions — Sofia Kenin, Madison Keys, and Naomi Osaka — on the way.
In February, she finished runner-up at the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, as well as top-20 players Karolina Muchova and Elina Svitolina, before falling to current world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in the final.
At the WTA National Bank Canadian Open, Tauson continued her stellar form, defeating Australian Open champion Keys and Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets before falling to Osaka in the semifinals.
Both Eala and Tauson thrive on hard courts, where their baseline games benefit from the fast surface.
The outcome of their matchup could hinge on who dictates the pace and imposes their style on the match.
Tauson, taller at 6’0” and physically stronger, will likely attempt to overpower the smaller Filipina — a strategy that has fueled her success this season.
(C) Wimbledon
Eala, however, has demonstrated the ability to counter power hitters. She picked up notable wins this year over Swiatek, Keys, and two-time victory against former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Eala’s best chance lies in varying her shot-making to keep Tauson, not known for her agility, off balance.
By mixing in drop shots — a weapon Eala has used effectively — along with crosscourt and down-the-line attacks, she can force the Dane to overextend and create openings for herself.
The Filipina will once again be the underdog in the first round, but this is a winnable match if she executes her game plan.
Eala must earn Tauson’s respect from the opening set and demonstrate she will not be intimidated.
By neutralizing Tauson’s power and leveraging her own tactical versatility, Eala could finally achieve her first Grand Slam main draw victory.
