If Alex Eala had to pick which match this year she would replay, it would be the third qualifying round of the US Open against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania last August.

Eala, 19, said that out of the three Grand Slams she almost qualified for in 2024, the US Open could have been the most memorable one because the Filipinos cheered her on at Flushing Meadows — Corona Park in Queens, New York.

The No. 148 tennis player in the world almost qualified for the main draw of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open this year had she not collapsed in the third qualifying round.

“It would have to be the final round of US Open qualifying. I can’t even start to explain the atmosphere of that match. It’s a shame I lost the third set, 4-6,” Eala said.

“I felt if I had won that, it would have been such a big milestone for me and of course for Philippine tennis. Just to be surrounded by so many Pinoys, it’s something unforgettable. It’s like I was playing back here.”

The US Open is also very significant for Eala, as she won her first Grand Slam singles title in the girls’ division in 2022 as she defeated Lucie Havlíčková of Czech Republic in the final, 6–2, 6–4.

Two years after that title win at the Big Apple, Eala first defeated Maddison Inglis of Australia, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, in the first qualifying round before pulling off a 7-5, 7-5 upset over world No. 99 Nuria Parrizas-Diaz of Spain in the second qualifying round.

But against Ruse, Eala fell short in the third qualifying round, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, missing out on her last attempt to make it to the main draw of a Grand Slam this year.

For 2025, Eala has made it her top priority to enter the main draw in one of the four Grand Slams after getting so close.