US OPEN

August 24, 2025

Alexandra Eala

Press Conference

A. EALA/C. Tauson

6-3, 2-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on your performance today.

ALEXANDRA EALA: I'm super over the moon with what I was able to do today, especially coming back in the third. It's a very special win for me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Double break down in the third and a crazy drama in the tiebreak. One of the crazier atmospheres we've seen in the first round. Can you explain what it's like to come through that match and what it means to you.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Oh, it means a lot. I think you could see by my reaction. I think everything just made it so special from who I was playing, a really good player, first round, the first main draw US Open, coming back from an injury. And obviously all of the people who watched today, the crowd was amazing.

I think everything in general just made the atmosphere so, so exciting, but at the same time, so tense. That's also part of why I'm so happy.

Q. The win today was not only your first US Open major win, but I believe it's the first time a Filipino person has won a Grand Slam match in the Open Era. I'm just curious if you could talk about what it means to play for that kind of history and what it means for you to be able to make that kind of history as well.

ALEXANDRA EALA: I'm so blessed to be the first to do this. Like I said, I take so much pride in representing my country. It makes what I do bigger than myself, and it gives -- it adds meaning to what I do.

Q. Tauson came in as the higher-ranked and favored player. How do you see this win shaping your confidence and momentum moving forward in the tournament?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think the key for my upcoming match is just to come in with the same mentality, same fight.

Obviously I will prepare as needed. Right now I'm just focused on recovering. That was a very tough match, but I think this will help long-term, not just for now, yeah.

Q. What were you feeling in the moment you realized you were victorious and as you went down to the ground?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I was just so over the moon, and it was just such a rush of emotions. Like I said previously, I think so many factors made the match so special, and I've been on the losing side of, you know, these tight tiebreaks before, so to be on the winning side, it's very memorable, yeah.

Q. Yesterday Venus Williams gave you advice, and she said, Just enjoy yourself. When you're having fun, things are easy; when you're not having as much fun, you have to put the fun first. How much fun did you have today? An incredible match in front of a crowd of 8,000 people who love you.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Wow, I had so much fun. Definitely hard to see that or to see the positives when, you know, you're down 5-1, but that's what I tried to do.

I tried to see the positives, find solutions. And obviously, you know, with all these people backing me up, it's hard not to stay in the moment and get their energy, yeah.

Q. I wanted to ask you how you keep so cool, especially in that third set, in the tiebreak. Is there any kind of training you do for that? Could it be yoga or something like that?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think it comes down to experience. Although I'm at the start of my WTA career, I've played so, so many matches, and tight matches and tense moments can happen at any level.

I've been playing since I was 4. I'm 20 now, so that's 16 years of experience, you know, whether it's at the junior level, 10-and-under level, professional level. I think that mental strength and that focus are the keys to, you know, coming out victorious in those moments.

Q. How important do you think this breakthrough on the WTA Tour is, not only for Filipinos, but also for the whole region of Southeast Asia, considering there are not many tennis players of this level?

ALEXANDRA EALA: You know, that's a good question (smiling). I don't know. It's hard to think that you're the first to do so and so, you know, because this is my first time going through the journey as well.

I'm so happy to see the progress of tennis in Southeast Asia in general. I know that a girl from Indonesia also won her match today. I've known her for a long time, so I'm happy for her. I'm happy that people from -- or players from this region, you know, are coming up and starting to be successful, yeah.

Q. You set me up nice because I wanted to ask about Janice. Wonder what we should look out for from her, her game, and her as a person as well.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Janice is super nice. I've known her for quite a long time. Growing up in the same region, we would run into each other a lot in the same tournaments.

You know, I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with her recently. I know she was in college. Yeah, now she's playing pro and doing super well.

I'm so happy for her, and it's nice to see someone that you grew up with in the same -- in the biggest stages in the world, yeah.

Q. What is her game style from what you've seen?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I know she has a great forehand, very good touch. Other than that, I haven't been able to observe much, yeah.

Q. Many young Filipinos and young Asian women around the globe look up to you. What message do you have for them after this victory?

ALEXANDRA EALA: After this victory or just in general?

Q. In general, what message do you have for them?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I would say that anything is possible and, you know, to dream big. I think me as a person, I'm very ambitious. Although there was no one from my country who did this before or was successful in tennis, I took inspiration from anyone I could; from my family, from my brother.

So I think just to be ambitious and to dream big and know that you can do it, yeah.

Q. We've spoken to Leylah Fernandez, and she said you met for the first time, and she has nice things to say about you.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Oh, that's nice.

Q. She said you're an inspiration to the youth, and you're sweet. What can you can say about her game and her strengths? She won today.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Well, I don't know if she's here, but send her my congratulations.

No, I think she's very crafty. She's a lefty. Yeah, she's a lefty and very fit. I think she's very smart on court. You know, you don't reach the final of US Open for nothing. She's an amazing player, and she's been doing really well. I think she won the 500 recently.

So, yeah, it's definitely someone that people really look up to, especially the youth, yeah.

Q. It's been six months since your breakthrough in Miami. I'm curious, what are some of the biggest changes in your life off the court since that result?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Well, off the court I would say that I'm getting recognized quite a bit more. I don't know. That's kind of really it.

I would say in my day-to-day there's not a lot that's changed, because the work ethic that I've had has been the same for years. You know, I work hard every day, do the best I can. You know, I have a great team around me, and they keep me super grounded, keep me hungry.

Just being in these tournaments, in these slams, all the 1000s, it just motivates me so much more knowing that the same time last year, there's no way I could have, you know, gotten into the main draw with my ranking, so...

Q. Have you been given opportunities?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Of course, with the ranking -- it's more on court. I mean, with the rankings I get more chances and opportunities to be in bigger tournaments, main draws. Yeah, but I think that's -- right now that's kind of all that's on the top of my head (smiling).