Philippine tennis sensation Alex Eala targets a spot in the third round of the US Open as she is set to take on world no. 95 Cristina Bucsa of Spain.
Alex Eala will look to build on her breakthrough at the Flushing Meadows when she faces Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the second round of the US Open on Thursday (PH time).
The 20-year-old Filipina, fresh off a stunning upset over world no. 14 Clara Tauson, now aims for another main draw win as she continues her historic run in New York.
Bucsa, ranked no. 95 in the world and more seasoned in doubles play, enters the match after dispatching American qualifier Claire Liu in dominant fashion, 6-2, 6-1.
[READ: World no. 95 Cristina Bucsa arranges clash with Alex Eala in US Open second round]
The Spaniard has proven she can score big wins on the singles stage too, having taken down 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu earlier this year.
On paper, Eala holds the edge.
Ranked 20 spots higher than Bucsa, she thrives on hard courts, a surface that plays to her strengths. Bucsa, meanwhile, favors grass, giving the Filipina added confidence heading into their matchup.
The two also share history: Eala defeated Bucsa in their lone previous encounter, a three-set battle at an ITF event in Grenoble, France in 2021.
[RELATED: Alex Eala holds slight head-to-head edge vs next US Open foe Cristina Bucsa]
The young Filipina star has already electrified the New York crowd with her fearless performance against Tauson, and she hopes to draw on that same energy when she returns to the court at Flushing Meadows.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala savors Filipino support in maiden US Open win — ‘They made me feel like I’m home’]
Another win would not only push Eala deeper into the US Open, but also add another historic chapter to her rapidly rising career. 1:00 a.m. is the initial start time for Eala-Bucsa.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]