BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Alexandra “Alex” Eala made Philippine sporting history by winning her first US Open main-draw match, becoming the first Filipino in the Open Era to do so. She has carried that momentum into the Guadalajara 125 Open.

At the 2025 US Open, the 20-year-old staged a remarkable comeback against 14th seed Clara Tauson, recovering from 5–1 down in the third set to prevail 6–3, 2–6, 7–6 (13‑11), according to official tournament results from the USTA.

In Guadalajara, Eala opened her WTA 125 campaign by defeating Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands 6–2, 6–2, to reach the Round of 16. She will face veteran American Varvara Lepchenko next, with the match scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4, at 3:20 a.m. Manila time, according to a PH Sports Bureau update.

Lepchenko, 39, is ranked No. 122 by the WTA and is a left-hander like Eala. She previously represented Uzbekistan before switching to the United States in 2007. Lepchenko advanced to the second round in Guadalajara by defeating Maddison Inglis of Australia (WTA official results).

Eala’s rise reflects years of steady accomplishment. She won the Australian Open junior doubles title in 2020 and the US Open junior singles crown in 2022, documented by the ITF. She also reached the semifinals of the 2025 Miami Open, becoming the first Filipina to beat a top‑10 opponent and enter the WTA Top 100.

Trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, Eala moved abroad as a child to pursue elite-level training. She comes from a family with a strong sporting pedigree: her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, was a Southeast Asian Games swimmer who won bronze in the 100m backstroke at the 1985 SEA Games (as noted by theAsianparent Philippines); her brother, Miko, played collegiate tennis in the United States; and her uncle, Noli, served as PBA commissioner and later as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

In a nation where basketball and boxing usually dominate, Eala’s emergence signals a breakthrough in Filipino tennis. Her combination of resilience, authenticity, and results continues to inspire, with endorsements and media attention following her historic performances.

Sources: USTA, WTA, ITF, Philippine Sports Bureau