Photo credit: Alexandra Eala

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala came heartbreakingly close to reaching the main draw of the US Open, but her journey was cut short in the final round of the qualifiers. Facing Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse on Court 4, Eala put up a fierce fight but ultimately fell short, with a scoreline of 6-3, 1-6, 4-6.

It was a rollercoaster match for the young athlete, who started strong by winning the first set 6-3, only to lose momentum in the second set, where Ruse dominated 6-1. The deciding set saw both players battling hard, but Ruse managed to edge out Eala with a 6-4 victory.

After the match, Alex took to Instagram to express her gratitude to her supporters and share her thoughts on the experience. “Gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng nanood at nag cheer sa akin kanina, sa personal man o sa livestream. Salamat lalong lalo na sa pamilya ko, sa mga taong hindi pumasok sa trabaho, at sa mga lumakbay ng malayo para lang mapanood ang laban ko. Narinig at naramdaman ng puso ko ang bawat sigaw at bawat palakpak niyo para sa akin. Maraming maraming salamat mga Kababayan. 🙇‍♀️❤️‍🔥” she wrote, visibly moved by the overwhelming support.

Though the loss was painful, Alex remains hopeful and determined, saying, “May tiwala ako na kahit masakit ang talo ngayon, may plano sa akin si Lord, kaya sigurado ako na makukuha ko din ‘to balang araw. Hindi pa tapos ang Laban!” She also called on her fans to continue praying for her as she hopes for a spot in the main draw as a Lucky Loser.

Despite the outcome, Eala shared that this week has been nothing short of a dream come true. "I was so close to achieving a big goal of mine, but today it was not meant to be. Nevertheless, this week has been nothing short of a thrilling dream. Playing in this atmosphere is something I have never experienced before and would not trade for the world.❤️"

While this chapter of Alex's US Open journey has come to a close, her fighting spirit remains undeterred. As she said, "Hindi pa tapos ang laban," and with her talent and determination, it’s clear that this is just the beginning for her.