Alex Eala is the primary Filipino to win a Slam match

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Eala turned the primary girl representing the Philippines to win a Grand Slam match, doing so at the US Open by defeating No. 14 seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) on Sunday after getting back from a 5-1 deficit within the third set and getting some assist from a key video review decision that flustered Tauson.

“I was playing really bad, anyway. But it definitely didn’t help,” Tauson advised The Associated Press. “But that’s how life is.”

Eala is a 20-year-old who’s ranked seventy fifth and trains on the Rafael Nadal Academy. This was her fourth win in opposition to a Top 20 opponent in 2025, together with against Iga Swiatek in March en path to the Miami Open semifinals.

Her milestone victory on Sunday for the Philippines meant loads to Eala.

“I’m so blessed to be the first to do this. I take so much pride in representing my country,” she mentioned. “It makes what I do bigger than myself.”

The pivotal second got here within the final set on the Grandstand, with Tauson clinging to a 5-4 lead and serving for the match for the second time. Eala hit a shot proper up close to the web and it wasn’t instantly clear throughout play whether or not or not her racket had crossed over the tape to make contact with the ball, which isn’t allowed.

“I’m so blessed to be the first to do this. I take so much pride in representing my country,” she mentioned. “It makes what I do bigger than myself”

Chair umpire Kader Nouni employed video assessment, a system that was launched on the US Open in 2023 on a small variety of courts to permit officers to verify calls reminiscent of double bounces and was expanded to all 17 competitors arenas this 12 months.

Nouni dominated that Eala hit the ball pretty and awarded her the purpose, giving her two break possibilities at 15-40. There was a prolonged delay earlier than motion resumed, although, with Tauson complaining and telling Nouni: “Look at the ball. What is your opinion about this? What is your opinion?”

Some within the stands booed her.

“I don’t need to watch it again. (It was an) incorrect call. My coach said the same. Physio said the same. And especially if my coach says that, I know that I’m not in the wrong, because he’s often telling me I’m wrong,” Tauson mentioned with a touch of fun in an interview a little bit greater than a half-hour after the match ended. “So I have nothing else to say, other than it’s an incorrect decision. I don’t know we can do that with VR. I don’t know how that’s even possible.”

Even after his determination was made clear to all, Tauson took some further time earlier than hitting her subsequent serve, standing with each palms on her hips on the baseline. Eventually, Tauson double-faulted, making it 5-all and drawing a rowdy response from a crowd that was loudly supporting Eala.

“The whole stadium was with her, so I’m sure the umpire felt pressure,” Tauson mentioned.

That gave Eala 16 of 21 factors in that span, and shortly she was one away from victory. Took a bit longer, although: In the top, she wanted 5 match factors to shut out the win after greater than 2 1/2 hours.

When Tauson despatched one final forehand lengthy, Eala dropped to her again on the court docket, chest heaving, and lined her face with each palms.

After Eala arose, and met Tauson on the internet for a handshake, the winner skipped across the court docket whereas the spectators roared their approval.

“I was just so over the moon,” Eala mentioned, “and it was just such a rush of emotions.”