Alex Eala has made history for the Philippines on numerous occasions, despite being only 21 years old.
Last year, she became the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam main draw match in the Open Era when she stunned 14th seed Clara Tauson in the US Open.
Eala eclipsed her US Open heroics 10 months later, defeating Maya Joint and defending champion Iga Swiatek en route to the Wimbledon fourth round.
How many Grand Slams will Alex Eala win in her career? 🏆
She's just knocked out the defending Wimbledon champion!
Eala achieved the Philippines’ best-ever result at Wimbledon, surpassing Felicisimo Ampon’s third-round appearances in 1949, 1950, and 1953.
However, Eala is yet to eclipse Ampon’s Filipino US Open record.
Alexandra Eala would make Filipino tennis history by reaching the US Open quarter-finals
No Filipino player has advanced further in a US Open singles event than Felicisimo Ampon.
Ampon, born in Manila, reached the US Open fourth round on four occasions: 1948 and 1952.
Who did Felicisimo Ampon lose to in the US Open fourth round in 1948 and 1952?
- 1948 – Earl Cochell
- 1952 – Dick Savitt
Therefore, Alex Eala has the opportunity to become the first player from the Philippines to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
After her fourth-round run at Wimbledon, Eala reaching the quarter-finals in New York is a distinct possibility.
The Filipina has proven that she is capable of beating the very best on the WTA Tour – as proven by her victory against Swiatek at Wimbledon – and that she can string together multiple excellent performances on the Grand Slam stage.
Eala has also performed exceptionally well on hard courts in the past, as demonstrated by her run to the Miami Open semi-finals in 2025, and by her barnstorming victory over Clara Tauson at last year’s US Open.
Of course, reaching the quarter-finals in New York will require an almighty effort on the part of Eala.
However, if she receives a kind draw and plays her best tennis, there is no reason why Filipino tennis fans could not witness her competing in the US Open quarter-finals in two months time.
The Philippines’ best-ever Grand Slam singles result
Felicisimo Ampon achieved the Philippines’ greatest Grand Slam singles results to date at Roland Garros.
In 1952, the 12th-seeded Filipino star defeated Bernard Destremau and fifth seed Tony Trabert en route to the last eight.
There, he was beaten by fourth seed Ken McGregor, 1-6, 1-6, 2-6.
Ampon returned to the same stage a year later, beating M. Zeppenfeldt, Xavier Perreau-Saussine, Christian Grandet and Budge Patty.
He then lost to Australian tennis legend, Ken Rosewall, in straight sets.
Rosewall went on to win the title, beating Vic Seixas in the final: 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.
