MANILA – Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala’s historic campaign at the 2025 US Open came to an end after a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Spain’s Cristina Bucșa in the second round on Wednesday (early Thursday in the Philippines) in New York.
The world No. 75 Eala, who entered the match as a slight favorite over the 95th-ranked Bucșa, struggled with consistency throughout the encounter. She committed 21 unforced errors and converted just three of her nine break-point opportunities.
Eala appeared in control early, holding serve to take a 4-3 lead in the opening set. But a pair of costly unforced errors while holding two break points in the next game allowed Bucșa to stay level.
The Spaniard capitalized on the momentum shift, firing a forehand winner and an ace to tie the set before breaking Eala’s serve for a 5-4 edge. Bucșa then saved three break points in the 10th game, with Eala’s consecutive miscues handing her the first set.
The second set followed a similar script. A double fault from Eala in the fifth game gave Bucșa a 3-2 lead. Though Bucșa briefly faltered with errors of her own, Eala could not take advantage.
The Spaniard broke serve again in the seventh game and never relinquished control, sealing the match in straight sets.
Despite the loss, the 20-year-old Eala’s performance in New York was a milestone moment for Philippine tennis after stunning Clara Tauson of Denmark in the opening round, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11), becoming the first Filipino to win a singles match in a Grand Slam tournament.
The breakthrough adds to what has already been a banner year for Eala, who rose to international prominence in March with a Cinderella semifinal run at the Miami Open, where she ousted multiple Grand Slam champions, including former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek
Eala also drew tremendous support from Filipino fans who packed Court 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, many of whom stayed after the match to cheer her on as she signed autographs and expressed gratitude despite the tough result.
Bucșa advances to face either 19th seed Elise Mertens of Belgium or New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in the third round of the Grand Slam event./PN
