Alex Eala battles Spain’s Cristina Busca in US Open second round

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala aims to sustain her historic run at the US Open as she guns for a round of 32 berth in a rematch against Spanish Cristina Bucsa at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in New York.

Eala defeated Bucsa in their first encounter at the 2021 W25 Grenoble in France, pulling off a comeback win, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8), in the last 16 of the tourney four years ago.

Oozing with confidence after making history as the first Philippine player to win a major main draw singles match, world no. 75 Eala looks to repeat on no. 95 Bucsa in their round of 64 clash and reach another milestone in the final Grand Slam of the year.

Reach more money, too.

The 20-year-old Eala secured $154,000, or P8.7 million for her first round win and she could upgrade it to $237,000 or P13.4 million if she beats Bucsa in the second.

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The 27-year-old Bucsa opened her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 win over American Claire Liu on Tuesday.

"I'm always in the mood for more history, I mean this match is one for the books for me," said Eala in an on-court interview after outlasting world no. 14 Clara Tauson, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(13-11), in the opener on Monday.

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With that historic and exhilirating win, more Filipinos are expected to fill the stands and give an extra ounce of energy to Eala just like in the first round.

A predominant Filipino crowd evidently boosted Eala in the opener and even flustered Tauson especially in the first set.

"It's so special," said Eala of the Filipino fans who made up about 90 percent of the estimated 8,000 attendees at the venue.

"They made me more and more special to be Filipino -- it's something I take so much pride in. I don't have a home tournament so to be able to have this community here in the US Open like, I'm so grateful that they made me feel like I'm home."

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