Alexandra Eala has come a long way since she featured in US Open qualifying in 2024.
Eala is a former US Open junior champion, having won the girls’ tournament in 2022.
Four years on from this triumph, Eala will be seeded at the US Open after enjoying a successful North American hard court swing this year, which includes winning her first WTA title in Washington D.C.
However, Eala’s first appearance as a senior player at the US Open was in 2024, when she competed in the qualifying draw.
Alexandra Eala was unable to qualify for the US Open in 2024
Eala was the world number 153 coming into the 2024 US Open, meaning that she needed to play in qualifying.
At the time, Eala had not played a single Grand Slam main draw match, but she was hoping to change that in New York.
Earlier that year, Eala had reached the third qualifying round of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but had just fallen short of the main draw.
Which Grand Slam event is Alexandra Eala most likely to win? 🤔
Eala found herself in the final round of qualifying again at the US Open after beating Madison Inglis and 15th qualifying seed Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
Elena-Gabriela Ruse was standing in the way of Eala reaching the US Open main draw, and the match got off to a good start after the Filipina won the first set.
However, it was not to be for Eala, who was beaten in the final round of Grand Slam qualifying again, with Ruse winning their match 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Eala has still never come through qualifying at a Grand Slam tournament, making her main draw debut at Roland Garros in 2025 after getting direct entry following her breakthrough run at the Miami Open.
How did Alexandra Eala perform at the 2025 US Open?
Eala also made her main draw debut at the US Open last year, where she was still searching for her first Grand Slam win after first round losses at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
In her first round match in New York, Eala would be handed a tough draw against 14th seed Clara Tauson.
It was a match that was not short of drama, as Eala came from 5-1 down in the third set to beat Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(11) to win her first Grand Slam match.
This is the only match Eala has won at the US Open so far in her career, as she was beaten in the second round by Cristina Bucsa.
Eala has since improved her Grand Slam record, as she made it all the way to the fourth round of Wimbledon this year.
The US Open will perhaps provide an even bigger chance for Eala, as she is at the highest seeded position of her career at a Grand Slam at 17th.
This year’s US Open main draw will officially get underway on Sunday, August 30.
