Alexandra Eala has made history by becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a major singles match in the Open era with a stunning comeback to beat 14th-seeded Dane Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) at the US Open.
After splitting the first two sets, Tauson raced out to a 1-5 lead in the deciding set, only for 20-year-old Eala to win the next five straight games, not giving her opponent a single look at a match point.
Tauson finally got back on the board to make it 6-6 and force a 10-point tiebreak to decide the match, with Eala holding her nerve and sending the crowd into raptures with a tense 13-11 win.
"To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in," the world number 75 said in her on-court interview.
"I don't have a home tournament so to be able to have this community here at the US Open, I'm so grateful that they make me feel like I'm home."
Eala shocked the tennis world with a run to the semifinals of the Miami Open in March, beating former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, reigning Australian Open winner Madison Keys, and then-five-time major winner Iga Swiatek on the way.
Earlier, former champion Emma Raducanu exorcised some US Open demons, earning her first victory at the tournament since lifting the trophy in 2021.
The Briton could not get past the first round in her past two appearances after winning it all as a qualifier four years ago, but she got on the right track this time around with a near-pristine performance to beat Japan's Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 in the first round.
"It's my first win here since 2021, so it's extra special," said Raducanu, who joined up with new coach Francisco Roig this month.
"First round's always difficult — especially at a slam."
Raducanu sprinted through the opening set, making just four unforced errors and winning the first five games as the Japanese qualifier did herself no favours with a pair of early double faults.
She got off to another hot start in the second set, winning the first four games and saving the only break point she faced in the sixth game, before forcing her opponent into an error on match point from the baseline.
She next faces qualifier Janice Tjen, who became the first Indonesian to win a main draw grand slam match in 22 years by beating 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
[womens singles scores]World number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, and local stars Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, were among the other early straight-sets victors.
Four-time US Open winner Novak Djokovic also made it through in straight sets — 6-1, 7-6(7/3), 6-2 — although admitted it was a "strange match" against American 19-year-old Learner Tien.
After tearing through the opener in just over 20 minutes, the second set lasted over an hour as Djokovic appeared fatigued at different times.
The 37-year-old held his nerve to win the tiebreak before reverting to his usual form to close out the match 6-2.
"It was quite a strange match," he said.
"When you come to the late 30s it's really about trying to preserve the energy for what matters.
"I still have the flair, I still have the drive. At times I wish I was younger … but hopefully I can keep it going."
[men's singles]Reuters/ABC
