Eala channels ‘idol’ Nadal to become Philippines’ first Slam winner
NEW YORK: Alexandra Eala became the Philippines’ first Grand Slam junior champion at the US Open on Saturday, using her “idol” Rafael Nadal for inspiration.
Alexandra Eala Sport News
From Philippines to Mexico, US Open second-round reflects game's global spread
NEW YORK :Players from the Philippines and Hong Kong will be on the schedule for the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time this week, as the U.S. Open sees the impact of an increasingly global game.
US Open: Aryna Sabalenka wins in straight sets and Alexandra Eala makes history
Aryna Sabalenka began the defence of her US Open title with a battling win – but the most popular victory of the opening day went to young Filipina Alexandra Eala.
US Open chaos as Bonzi ousts raging Medvedev
NEW YORK: France’s Benjamin Bonzi sent Russian 13th seed Daniil Medvedev crashing out of the US Open early Monday in a stormy late-night thriller that boiled over into chaos following an extraordinary third-set flashpoint.
Djokovic voices physical concerns after US Open win
NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic fears his lack of physical conditioning may come back to haunt him as he chases a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.The 38-year-old Serbian superstar made a winning start to his latest tilt at glory on Sunday, defeating US teenager Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in 2hr 25min on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.But Djokovic, who needed a lengthy medical timeout to treat a blister on his right foot between the second and third sets, admitted afterwards he was worried by a sudden loss of stamina during the second set.“I started great – just over 20 minutes, first set, I felt really good,” Djokovic said.“Then some long games to start the second set... I really was surprised how bad I was feeling in the second physically.“We had long exchanges, but also, I kind of dropped my level and made a lot of unforced errors and kind of got him back into the match.“There are positives but also things that hopefully won’t happen in terms of how I felt on the court physically in the second set“It’s slightly a concern.
Tommy Fleetwood secures elusive first PGA victory to win FedEx Cup title
ATLANTA: Asked and now answered.
Rahm and Legion XIII outlast DeChambeau and the Crushers in the LIV Golf team final
PLYMOUTH, Michigan: Jon Rahm and Legion XIII outlasted Bryson DeChambeau and the Crushers in a playoff Sunday in the LIV Golf League team final. Legion XIII rallied to match the Crushers at 20 under at The Cardinal at Saint John’s, with the Stinger squad from South Africa well back at 12 under in three-team final. Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton each birdied the final two holes of regulation, then ended the playoff with a pair of birdies on the second extra hole against DeChambeau and Paul Casey. Rahm made a 6-footer and Hatton had a short putt for the deciding birdies. “Tyrrell and I got it going a little late, but better late than never,” Rahm said.
Defending champion Sabalenka into second round of US Open, Raducanu notches first win since 2021 triumph
NEW YORK: Defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was given an early test before she moved into the second round while Emma Raducanu won her first match at the Grand Slam since her 2021 triumph as the tournament began a day earlier than usual on Sunday. Under the new extended 15-day format, first-round singles action will be contested from Sunday to Tuesday, rather than two days as in previous years, spreading out the star attractions and allowing access for another 70,000-odd spectators. Sabalenka was among the marquee names on the opening day’s schedule and the Belarusian fed off the vocal Arthur Ashe crowd to overcome determined Swiss Rebeka Masarova 7-5 6-1 and move into the next round. “When I won that first set and you cheered for me, I got goosebumps,” said Sabalenka, who will take on Russia’s Polina Kudermetova in the second round on Wednesday. “Your support means a lot to me, thank you for coming. It was an amazing atmosphere.” Novak Djokovic, the record 24-times Grand Slam singles champion, headlines the evening schedule on the main showcourt against American Learner Tien and he will be followed by 2024 finalist Jessica Pegula, who plays Egypt’s Mayar Sherif. Italian Jasmine Paolini kicks off the later program on Louis Armstrong Stadium against Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava, followed by the 2021 champion and 13th seed Daniil Medvedev, who faces France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
‘Over the moon’: Filipino Eala bags historic first at US Open
NEW YORK: Alexandra Eala produced a jaw-dropping late comeback to carve out a piece of tennis history at the US Open on Sunday, becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match with a first round upset of Danish 14th seed Clara Tauson. The 20-year-old from Quezon City recovered from a 5-1 deficit in the deciding set to score a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11) triumph. “I’m super over the moon with what I was able to do today, especially coming back in the third,” Eala said. “It’s a very special win for me.” Eala’s breakthrough comes at the end of a season where she had already served notice of her talent. She took down Australian Open champion Madison Keys and former world number one Iga Swiatek during a giant-killing run to the semifinals of the Miami Open in March. But Sunday’s triumph on the Grandstand court at Flushing Meadows catapulted the youngster — who won the US Open girls title in 2022 — into the history books. “I’m so blessed to be the first to do this,” Eala said. “I take so much pride in representing my country. It makes what I do bigger than myself, and it adds meaning to what I do.” Eala collapsed to the court after her victory, later revealing that past experiences had helped her dig deep to clinch the tiebreak.