For the third time this year, Alex Eala is on track to make her debut in a seniors Grand Slam event after turning back Australian Maddison Inglis, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, in the first round of the qualifying of the US Open tournament on early Wednesday, Aug. 21 (Manila time). 

The 19-year-old Filipina continued her promising run this month after also recently coming off back-to-back quarterfinal appearances in two International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in the United States. 

Eala previously came one away from the main draw of her first pro Grand Slam in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon Championships a few months back following a show of fine form in the third round of both qualifiers. 

The Filipina tennis star recovered from a second-set stumble before finally cruising control in the third set.

The win set up Eala for a meeting with Spanish Nuria Parrizas-Diaz on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 4 a.m. 

Eala is no stranger to success in the US Open as she has won the title in 2022 as a junior player to become the first Filipina to ever accomplish the feat at 17.