‘They made me really feel like I am dwelling’

Filipinos in New York make Alex Eala really feel the love as she advances to the second spherical of the US Open following a dramatic and historic win over Denmark’s Clara Tauson

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala‘s debut within the US Open primary draw felt very very like a house match.

Filipinos in New York made Eala really feel the love as she clinched a historic 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11) victory over No. 14 seed Clara Tauson of Denmark within the opening spherical on Sunday, August 24 (Monday, August 25, Manila time).

Buoyed by the partisan crowd on the 8,125-seater Grandstand, the 20-year-old battled again from a 1-5 deficit within the deciding set on the way in which to turning into the primary Filipino to win a Grand Slam primary draw match within the Open period.

The Open period refers back to the time beginning in 1968 when Grand Slam tournaments lastly allowed skilled gamers to compete with amateurs.

“It’s so particular. They make me increasingly more particular. To be Filipino is one thing I take a lot delight in,” stated Eala in her on-court interview.

“I don’t have a house match so to have the ability to have this group right here on the US Open, I’m so grateful that they made me really feel like I’m dwelling.”

The followers made an enormous distinction as their cheers bothered Tauson, who complained about being distracted by their noise when the ball was on play.

At one level, the umpire informed these in attendance: “Please don’t be too excited in the course of the level.”

It solely bought worse for Tauson within the essential stretch of the third set as she bought booed following her prolonged problem of an Eala volley winner within the tenth recreation, the Dane contesting that the Filipina’s racket crossed the online.

However the umpire retained the purpose, permitting Eala to grab a 6-5 lead.

Though Tauson received the subsequent recreation to drive a tiebreak, the momentum and the gang have been merely on Eala’s facet as she bought the job achieved on her fifth match level.

The win marked the primary time Eala reached the second spherical of a significant after first-round exits within the French Open in Could and the Wimbledon Championships in June.

And it got here in the identical Grand Slam occasion the place Eala made historical past in 2022 when she received the US Open ladies’ singles title — a primary for the Philippines.

Eala needs extra.

“I’m at all times within the temper for extra historical past,” she stated. “This one is one for the books for me.” – Rappler.com