Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala has made it through the second round of the Mubadala DC Open by trouncing China’s Zheng Qinwen, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in a hardfought come-from-behind win at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.
The 21-year-old Eala had to grind out the victory against Zheng, the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist, who received a wildcard into the tournament and once defeated the country’s pride way back in 2023 when she won top honors in the Hangzhou Asian Games in China.
The world number 29-ranked Filipina came out strong, racing to a 2-0 lead after an early service break, but her opponent Zheng, herself a former world No. 4, quickly settled in, leveling the match at 2-all before taking control with a break for a 3-2 advantage.
China’s standout then won five of the final six games after trailing early, closing out the opening set 6-4.
However, drawing strength from her acquired experience in Wimbledon and the huge turn-out crowd cheering for her, Eala showed her resilience in the second set, fighting off a 0-40 deficit to hold for a 2-1 lead before continuing to match Zheng game for game.
After Zheng moved ahead 4-3 with a break, Eala answered with her first break since the second game of the opening set to level at 4-all, igniting the Filipino crowd to loud shouts of approval.
Eala’s fans and supporters made their presence felt as they waved flags and posters on center court to support their idol.
Riding the momentum, Ealz then held serve and broke Zheng once more to claim the second set 6-4, forcing a deciding third set, where she raced to a commanding 4-0 lead with 2 breaks of Zheng’s serve. Zheng caught a break but Eala held on to take the set at 6-1.
With the victory, the Filipina ace has set herself to a second round showdown against fellow lefthander defending champion Leylah Fernandez of Canada.
At the post match interview on the sidelines, Eala expressed her thankfulness over the support given to her everywhere she goes and when she was asked about this, she gave credit to her Filipino heritage: “No, I think the question should be what it’s like to be Filipino. Salamat mga kababayan.”
Meanwhile, in the initial United States Open mixed doubles entry list announced earlier by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), Eala has been paired with men’s world No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian, won the mixed doubles bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Gabriela Dabrowski. He also reached the US Open semifinals in 2021 and 2025 and advanced as well to the quarterfinals of this year’s French Open and Wimbledon.
USTA’s initial entry list features 16 teams that include Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek, Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe and Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori.
According to the US Open website, the entry window for the main draw will close on August 17. The top six teams with the highest combined singles rankings are already assured of spots in the main draw.
The US Open likewise disclosed that “eight teams will be determined via wild card and announced on a date to follow,” with two teams earning a main draw spot by advancing through the eight-team qualifying draw played on August 24. The qualifying field will feature six direct entries and two wild cards.”
Aside from competing in the singles tournament and being included in the initial mixed doubles entry list, Eala will also take part in the 2026 Stars of the Open exhibition event alongside Iva Jovic, Learner Tien and Joao Fonseca.