Alex Eala loses US Open qualifying final round match

FILE–Filipino tennis player Alex Eala ahead of her US Open women’s qualifying campaign. –ALEX EALA INSTAGRAM

MANILA, Philippines — the women’s Grand Slam main draw remained elusive for Alex Eala after bowing out in the final round of the 2024 US Open qualifiers.

Eala couldn’t sustain her strong start as she fell to Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, on Friday (Manila time) in New York.

After winning the opening frame, the Filipino prodigy lost steam as the 28-year-old Romanian dominated the second set with a 4-0 start before Eala scored a point but took a medical timeout.

READ: For Alex Eala, a special kind of Grand Slam

Ruse never looked back to force a decider, where they went toe-to-toe tied at 3-3.

The World No. 123 got the better of the 19-year-old Filipino in the end game to enter the US Open main draw against Julia Grabher of Austria in the first round.

Eala, though, stay optimistic despite another close call. She also said she is still looking to get into the main draw as the lucky loser.

“I believe that even though losing today hurts, God has a plan for me, and I’m sure I’ll achieve this someday. The fight isn’t over yet! Please join me in praying that I make it to the main draw as a Lucky Loser,” Eala wrote on her Instagram in Filipino.

Reaching the main draw has been elusive for Eala as she missed a chance in the Wimbledon and French Open.

The World No.148 Filipino opened her campaign with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 win over Maddison Inglis of Australia in the first round and took down Spanish Nuria Parrizas Diaz, 7-5, 7-5, to reach the final qualifying round.

READ: Alex Eala excited ahead of first US Open campaign as a pro

Eala thanked the fans who supported her at Flushing Meadows and online with the match airing early morning Philippine time.

“I want to thank everyone who watched and cheered for me earlier, whether in person or through the livestream. A special thanks to my family, to those who skipped work, and to those who traveled far just to watch my match. My heart heard and felt every cheer and every clap from you. Thank you so much, my fellow Filipinos,” Eala said.

“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 experience before and would not trade for the world,” she also said.

Eala became the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam title in the singles division, ruling the US Open girls’ tournament two years ago. She won two in doubles in the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open in the juniors division.

Eala, who came into the US Open qualifiers ranked 148 in the world, will likely rise in the rankings after coming one win away from qualifying for her first grand slam after winning the US Open Juniors title in 2022.