Alex Eala Falls to Cristina Bucșa in US Open Second Round
The historic run of Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala at the US Open came to an end Thursday after a straight-sets defeat to Spain’s Cristina Bucșa, 6–4, 6–3, in the second round.
Eala, who made history earlier this week as the first Filipina to win a main-draw match at a Grand Slam in the Open Era, couldn’t replicate her comeback magic against the world No. 95. Bucșa was steadier throughout, converting 6 of 8 break point opportunities and controlling key rallies with solid baseline play.
Despite a comparable first-serve percentage (Bucșa 78%, Eala 76%), Eala struggled to win points on her second serve, managing just 33% compared to Bucșa’s 50%. The Spaniard also notched 3 aces and edged the 19-year-old Eala in total points won, 65 to 58.
Eala had her chances, earning 9 break points and converting 3, but her inconsistency under pressure, particularly on second serves and longer rallies, tilted the match in Bucșa’s favor.
This result caps off a milestone tournament for Alex Eala, who shocked the tennis world with her first-round win over No. 14 seed Clara Tauson. The loss, while disappointing, still marks a major step forward in her young career and provides a valuable learning experience as she continues her rise in the WTA rankings.
Cristina Bucșa advances to the third round, where she’ll look to build on this momentum.
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