On the eve of her first-round clash at the 2025 US Open, Alex Eala hit the practice courts at Flushing Meadows, fine-tuning her game under the New York sun.
Temperatures climbed to 30 degrees as both Eala and her opponent, Denmark’s Clara Tauson, went through their final preparations with their teams.
Eala, the 20-year-old Filipina tennis star, practiced for an hour with Victoria Kasintseva of Andorra, while Tauson sparred with France’s Lois Boisson.
Team Eala was upbeat heading into the match.
“The practice today was good. We played points, rallies — she’s hitting the ball very well. The important thing is tomorrow. In matches, things change, but I think we are ready,” said Eala’s head coach, Joan Bosch of the Rafa Nadal Academy.
“The shoulder is okay now. We had been doing fewer serves before, but last week we started serving normally again. Everything is healed.”
Eala, returning from a recent injury, expressed gratitude for competing at the US Open 2025.
“I feel so fortunate to be here, especially after coming back from an injury. I’m just happy to be healthy and fit to compete,” she added.
This will be Eala’s first-ever meeting with Tauson, a higher-ranked and aggressive opponent. Still, the Filipina is embracing the challenge.
“I feel more physically fit now. Mas experienced na ako ngayon, mas maraming dinaanan — a year plus of experience I can lean on,” said Eala. “It’s always going to be a great battle. She’s a very good player, but there are no easy draws here. You just have to come out with the same mindset and focus on yourself,” she said.
Eala added that her strategy would be to maximize her strengths.
“Mautak ako — I know how to use the weapons I have. More than anything, I have to stay super focused and run after everything because she’s very aggressive. Let’s see how I handle that,” she said.
Coach Bosch, alongside fellow trainer Lluc Bauzà, emphasized that the team had worked tirelessly to put Eala in peak condition for the final Grand Slam of the year.
“She [Tauson] is ranked higher than Alex, so it’s a challenge for us. But we’re happy to play against her. For sure, it will be a good fight.”
Eala is particularly excited to compete at the Grandstand, the US Open’s third-largest stadium, where she expects strong support from the Filipino community in New York.
“I already felt it yesterday and today. Last year, the crowd was amazing. Alam ko naman ang laki ng Filipino community dito, so sobrang saya. I’m so happy to be back.” (ABS-CBN News)