Alexandra Eala: “I Have a Pretty Strong Baseline of Belief in Myself” — Filipina Phenom Set for Milestone Run at 2026 US Open
Just twelve months ago, fans packed into the Grandstand at the 2025 US Open to watch a red-hot Alexandra Eala rally from a 5-1 deficit in the third set to upset 14th seed Clara Tauson—marking the first Grand Slam main-draw singles victory by a Filipino player in the Open Era.
Since that historic breakthrough in Flushing Meadows, the 21-year-old Filipina phenom has skyrocketed from outside the Top 100 straight into the world’s elite.
Now sitting at a career-high World No. 18 and entering the 2026 US Open as the No. 17 seed—the highest seed ever achieved by a Filipino player in Grand Slam history—Eala arrives in New York carrying momentum from her maiden WTA singles title in Washington, D.C.
“I remember that I was 5-1 down in the third, and it was a very tough comeback for me. I know she was dominating me for a lot of the match,” Eala reflected on her 2025 Flushing Meadows win. “It was definitely one of my most memorable matches of that year.”
A Year of Incredible Growth and High-Profile Milestones
Over the past year, Eala’s rapid rise has included semifinal appearances in Berlin and Auckland, quarterfinal runs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and a thrilling fourth-round run at Wimbledon where she stunned defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Along the way, she has expanded her perspective on tour through high-profile doubles partnerships, notably teaming up with icon Venus Williams at Bad Homburg and Toronto.
“I have experienced so much growth in the past year, and so many milestones in my career… I’ve gotten to work closely with so many amazing tennis players. I’ve gotten to experience more of their work ethic, being in this environment a lot more. I’ve gotten to compete against the best of the best a lot more frequently,” Eala said during her US Open Media Day press conference.
“Having had the pleasure to play doubles twice with Venus, I have learned a lot about her mentality on court, but also things about how she championed equal prize money with her sister,” Eala added. “There are so many stories behind the scenes that you might not even realize. So that really keeps me humble. It keeps me motivated to work harder and stay among these incredible people.”
Remaining Grounded Amid the “Eala Effect”
The electric atmosphere surrounding Eala was on full display during Fan Week, as massive crowds cheered for her inside Arthur Ashe Stadium during the Stars of the Open event. Despite her growing stardom, Eala keeps a humble perspective on her place in tennis history.
“I think 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.
“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,” she continued. “Although there are certain things like the media that make me stand out, I think that I’m a drop in the ocean when it comes to these things.”
Returning to Where the Story Began
Flushing Meadows holds a special place in Eala’s journey; it is where she captured the 2022 US Open girls’ singles title to become the first Filipino junior Grand Slam champion.
As she prepares to open her 2026 campaign against American qualifier Mary Stoiana, Eala remains focused on the inner belief that has brought her to the top 20.
“I have a pretty strong baseline of belief in myself, and of course it’s very normal that it fluctuates. There are moments where it’s more difficult to believe in yourself, and there are moments where it’s much easier.”
“But I think my baseline has remained quite steady, and maybe on an incline, but a very slow incline. What’s important is to have that foundation of, ‘I know what I can do, I’m strong,’ who I am as a person, what my character is.”
