08/29/26 08:13:00
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08/29 05:00 CDT Alex Eala returns to the US Open with a roaring fan base and on
a path to stardom
Alex Eala returns to the US Open with a roaring fan base and on a path to
stardom
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- More than 8,000 fans packed the Grandstand at the U.S. Open
last year to witness Alex Eala rally from down 5-1 in the third set to upset
14th-ranked Clara Tauson. The crowd went crazy, waving Filipino flags to
celebrate the comeback.
Eala is now up to a career-best 18th in the world, and at just 21 appears to be
on a trajectory to stardom that has outgrown all but the biggest venues at
Flushing Meadows.
"The crowd is going to be wild for her," ESPN's Patrick McEnroe said. "Better
make sure they don't put her on one of those side courts early in the
tournament."
Eala is back in New York for the latest stop on the whirlwind tour that has her
on a path to being one of the future faces of tennis. She is less than a month
removed from winning in Washington for her first WTA title, and her popularity
is exploding in the process.
Back at a Grand Slam after reaching the round of 16 at Wimbledon, she called
herself "a drop in the ocean" while downplaying her impact on the sport.
"At the forefront of everything is gratitude: I'm very grateful for the support
that my fans give me and that my supporters give me," Eala said Friday. "Every
single WTA player and every single ATP player has contributed to the world of
tennis and its history just by being here and by putting in the work every
single day."
Part of what grounded Eala, she believes, is partnering with Venus Williams in
doubles a couple of times this summer. She has also studied tennis history
along the way and realized how much work it takes to get to the top.
"That really keeps me humble," Eala said. "It keeps me motivated to work harder
and stay among these incredible people."
One of those incredible people is third-ranked Jessica Pegula, who was up a set
in the final in Washington. Eala came back to become the first player from the
Philippines to win a singles title on the tour.
"I've gotten to compete against the best of the best a lot more frequently,"
Eala said. "I have experienced so much growth in the past year, and so many
milestones in my career."
Mary Joe Fernandez, who once was ranked as high as fourth, called Eala "a big
star to highlight" at the U.S. Open.
"Her game's really good," Fernandez said. "She backs it up. She's improved
tremendously, I think, in the last 12 months when we saw her break through.
She's getting better and better."
Fernandez, now an ESPN analyst, marvels at Eala's "off the charts" fan
following that she saw firsthand last year in Miami.
"It's just gotten bigger and bigger everywhere she goes," Fernandez said.
"Every point is loud. Every point she wins, it feels like she's won more than a
point. It's remarkable."
Eala is scheduled to play her first-round match against American qualifier Mary
Stoiana. She would need to win three in a row to potentially set up a showdown
with fourth-seeded Coco Gauff, which would almost certainly put Eala on center
stage at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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See AP's full tennis coverage here
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