US Open: Lone Asian American Jessica Pegula fights her way into semi-finals

Jessica Pegula

And then there was one. Jessica Pegula is the last Asian American in the US Open as the tournament enters its final rounds.

With the media's darling, the Philippines Alexandra Eala, eliminated earlier this week, Asian and Asian American fans turned their attention to the remaining Asian and Asian American players.

The quarterfinal stage at Flushing Meadows brought a mix of heartbreak and history for our community’s top tennis stars. While three phenomenal players saw their deep runs come to an end, Pegula kept the fire burning with a gritty, come-from-behind victory.

Here is how the action unfolded for our community's favorites:

Pegula Power: Jessica Marches On

Jessica Pegula—whose mother Kim Pegula was adopted from South Korea—showed incredible mental toughness in her quarterfinal match on Tuesday. Facing off against Emma Navarro, Pegula dropped the opening set but refused to back down. She rallied fiercely to lock in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. 

The win secures her spot in the semifinals, which are scheduled for Thursday, September 10. Pegula will take center stage during the night session inside Arthur Ashe Stadium starting at 7 p.m. local time (ET). 

In the semi-final, Pegula will be facing a familiar opponent. A massive blockbuster showdown against top-seeded and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka awaits. The two met in the 2024 US Open final, which the world No. 1 won. Sabalenka also defeated Pegula in the 2025 semifinal, but since then, the Korean American has won their last couple of meetings and views their increasingly frequent battles as a genuine rivalry.

“Yeah, I think it's fun to look at it like a rivalry. I think that that's what kind of motivates me," says Pegula. "And I think, honestly, I feel like that's what's going to motivate her. Probably that I beat her the last couple of times. I'm sure she's going to look at those couple matches and what she needs to do different.”

Zheng and Rybakina’s epic clash

Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng’s phenomenal run came to a heartbreaking end in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. 

After shocking world No. 8 Iga Świątek in the previous round, Zheng went toe-to-toe with Elena Rybakina. Zheng captured the first set with flawless baseline play, but Rybakina storm-chased back to take the match 6-3, 1-6, 4-6. 

With this win, Rybakina also claims the world No. 1 ranking. 

Ankle injury halts Osaka

Naomi Osaka’s inspiring return to the US Open spotlight was cut short in the Round of 16 on Monday. The former champion ran into a red-hot Elena Rybakina, falling 1-6, 4-6. 

Compounding the tough loss, the 28-year old Osaka was visibly hampered by a nagging ankle and foot issue during the second set, ending her 2026 New York campaign.

Osaka was visibly hampered during her Monday' match by pain in her leg — was philosophical about her loss.

"Maybe I'm just getting older, but I don't feel sad," Osaka said. "I think, also, if I reflect on my career and the things that I've been able to do, there's nothing that I regret or there's nothing that I'm sad about ... If I win another Grand Slam, it's not going to change my life."

Tien pushes a veteran to the brink

On the men's side, 20-year-old Asian American phenom Learner Tien gave fans the match of the tournament in the Round of 16. 

The Next Gen graduate, coached by the former Grand Slam champion Michael Chang, pushed veteran Karen Khachanov to the absolute limit in a grueling, physical four-hour epic. Tien ultimately ran out of gas in the final stretch, falling just short in five sets: 5-7, 6-4, 7-6, 1-6, 4-6. 

Despite the exit, Tien has shown that we'll be hearing more about him in the future. His showing at the US Open proves he belongs on the sport's biggest stages. 

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US Open: Eala ousted, Pegula, Osaka, Zheng, Tien move into the round of 16

Good friends Alex Eala, right, and Iva Jovic hug after their hard-fought match at the US Open.

Asian and Asian American tennis atheletes are providing a whole lot of entertaining play. The Asian diaspora is right at the epicenter of the biggest headlines of the US Open.

In a Saturday night primetime spectacular that has already been christened the "Best Match" of the tournament, Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and her close friend, American Iva Jovic, battled to the absolute physical limit on Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

While Eala's magical role came to an end, her extraordinary effort capped off a phenomenal first week for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander athletes in Flushing Meadows, alongside clutch, jaw-dropping advances by Naomi Osaka, Qinwen Zheng, Jessica Pegula and among the men, Learner Tien's surprising upsets.

Besties' Battle: Eala and Jovic in 3-hour thriller

The bond between 21-year-old Filipina star Alexandra Eala and 18-year-old American prodigy Iva Jovic was put on temporary pause under the New York lights. What followed was a breathtaking 3-hour and 4-minute baseline war of attrition that left the stadium crowd on their feet.

Jovic ultimately edged out Eala with a razor-thin 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 victory.

Eala showcased the devastating ball-striking that has made her a hero in Southeast Asia, leading 4-2 in the third set continuously threatening to break Jovic's resolve, raising the hopes of her legions of fans

Jovic, playing through bleeding scrapes on her knees, broke into tears post-match, telling the crowd she felt heartbroken to have to eliminate one of her best friends in the sport. 

At the end of the match Eala went into Jovic's side of the net to give her friend a heartfelt hug instead of the customary meeting on opposite sides of the net.

That act by Eala moved Jovic to tears during the after-match press conference. "I'm going to start crying. But it says a lot about her as a person to be able to do that after that type of match and still come over to hug me and wish me all the best... Yeah, she's incredible."

Tennis icon Monica Seles heralded the match as an instant US Open classic.

Respected sports writer Jon Wertheim also called Jovic vs Eala the best match of the US Open thus far.

"If the @usopen were the UFC, Eala and Jovic would both get fight-of-the-night cash bonuses upon repairing the locker room ….as it is, can we all agree: match of the tournament ?"

Jovic now moves on to face No. 4 seed, fellow American Coco Gauff while Eala prepares for the next WTA tourney in Singapore starting Sept. 21.

Osaka defies the odds

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka continues her highly watched, deeply personal quest for another Grand Slam title. Facing a massive hurdle against Belgium’s Elise Mertens, Osaka proved that her championship mettle remains entirely intact. 

After dropping a grueling second set and staring down a dangerous 4-2 deficit in the final set, Osaka dialed in her signature heavy groundstrokes to capture a thrilling 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win.

The Road Ahead: A visibly relieved Osaka admitted to the press she was "literally shocked" by the turnaround. Her prize? A blockbuster, highly anticipated Round of 16 showdown against Elena Rybakina.

Wen pulls off the escape of the century

Reigning Olympic Gold Medalist Qinwen Zheng looked completely down and out against American powerhouse Madison Keys. What happened next will go down in Chinese tennis lore.

After dropping the first set 1-6, Zheng found herself trapped in a seemingly insurmountable 5-0 hole in the deciding third set.

Zheng saved a match point, locked down her errors, and engineered a staggering seven-game consecutive streak to completely paralyze Keys, taking the match 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Zheng pushes forward to face World No. 8 Iga Świątek in a marquee matchup.

 Steady Pegula sails through

Rounding out the top tier of American contenders, half-Korean third seed Jessica Pegula put on a brilliant, clinical display on Louis Armstrong Stadium. 

Pegula dismantled the veteran 16th seed Sorana Cîrstea in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, behind a dominant 68% first-serve efficiency. She moves seamlessly into the Round of 16 to take on fellow American Emma Navarro.

A surprise on the men's side

The American tennis landscape has a new reason to celebrate, and it comes in the form of 20-year-old Learner Tien, who is delivering a historic breakthrough performance at the US Open.

At 1:30 a.m., Learner Tien was able to raise his arms in victory.

By punching his ticket to the Round of 16, the 14th-seeded Irvine native has become the youngest American man to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick's iconic run in 2002.

Tien outlasted 17th-seed Jakub Menšík in a grueling, three-hour and 24-minute five-set marathon (6–3, 1–6, 6–7, 6–3, 6–4), ending at 1:30 a.m.

Prior to this year's tournament, Tien had never won a main-draw match at the US Open. He has now rocketed from outside the top 200 into the world's top 15.

Next up, the young American faces a massive test against former semifinalist Karen Khachanov for a spot in the quarterfinals scheduled around 7 p.m. Monday.

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US Open: Asian players advance as matches grow harder and more tense

USTA

Barangay New York showed up at the US Open to support Filipino sports hero Alex Eala.

The tennis world is witnessing a remarkable convergence of talent, culture, and representation at Flushing Meadows, as three powerhouse athletes with deep Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) roots advance into the deep end of the US Open draw.

 In a tournament that continuously showcases the global nature of modern tennis, Alexandra Eala, Naomi Osaka, and Jessica Pegula are carving out their own distinct, compelling storylines while carrying the passion of multi-ethnic communities with them into every set.

Perhaps the most gripping drama came from world No. 3 Jessica Pegula—whose mother was adopted from South Korea—in a thrilling generational battle against Filipino Canadian star Leylah Fernandez. 

Dropping the opening set 1-6 against Fernandez's blistering, aggressive angles, Korean American Pegula showed the quiet grit and tactical adaptability that defines her game. The match turned into an intense, physical chess match, with Pegula edging a high-tension second-set tiebreak before outlasting Fernandez 6-3 in the final frame to complete a dramatic comeback. 

Having overcome a fierce opponent with shared Asian heritage, Pegula moves into the fourth round (Round of 16) on September 6 to battle Romania’s No. 16 seed Sorana Cîrstea.

From left: Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka and Alex Eala are drawing new fans to the sport of tennis.

Alex Eala

Alexandra Eala has ignited a full-blown wave of "Eala Mania" with fans coming from as far as the Philippines and the bulk of fans coming from New York's Queens borough where a majority of the city's Filipino Americans reside..

 The 21-year-old Filipina sensation dismantled Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in a commanding 6-1, 6-4 second-round victory, transforming Louis Armstrong Stadium into an electric celebration of Pinoy pride by waving Philippine flags, cheers of "Laban (Let's go) Alex!" and buying up tickets for Eala's matches and there has even been a sighting of the dancing Eala-saurus that first made its costumed appearance in Toronto's Canadian Open.

With every thunderous winner and composed rally, the energized crowd pushed Eala firmly into her maiden third-round appearance at a Grand Slam. With each match, Eala continues to make history. No other Southeast Asian has reached the third round of the US Open. 

She now prepares to face her close friend, America's No. 14 seed Iva Jovic, who is 2-0 against Eala in previous meetings. The two friends will take the court on September 5, with Eala looking to extend a fairytale run that has united Eala Mania with traditional tennis fans who love to cheer on the underdog.

Naomi Osaka

 

Meanwhile, two-time champion and 13th seed in the Open Naomi Osaka continues to seamlessly blend athletic resilience with cultural influence. 

The L.A.-based Japanese and Haitian icon turned heads in Arthur Ashe Stadium with a striking custom daytime kit before gritting out a hard-fought 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 battle against Czech strategist Kateřina Siniaková. 

After a brief mid-match wobble, the frustrated Osaka recalibrated her devastating baseline power to seal the third set and book a high-stakes third-round clash against Belgium’s No. 23 seed Elise Mertens on Sunday, Sept. 5.

Q.W. Zheng

Not as well known as Eala, Pegula and Osaka, China's Q.W. Zhen has made it to third round, fighting her past Yulia Putinseva in a hard fought 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. The Olympic Gold Medalist will meet up with the US's hard-hitting Madison Keys, Saturday at 8 a.m.

As the US Open continues, the players get better and the matches become  closer. Whatever the outcome, the focus of these Asian players indicates that one of them, or maybe more, could make it deeper into the tournament, the last Grand Slam event of the season.

As the tournament reaches its business end, these athletes are doing far more than advancing through the draw — they are fundamentally reshaping the culture of grand slam tennis. Win or lose in the coming rounds, their presence at Flushing Meadows signals a dynamic shift in the sport, bringing new energy, diverse fandoms, and an undeniable new era to the court.

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Wave of Asian players and fans wash over the US Open; Eala, Pegula, Fernandez, Osaka advance

Alexandra Eala brought her game and Eala Mania to the US Open.

As the first week of the US Open Tennis Championships heats up, players of Asian heritage are making serious noise in Flushing Meadows, literally and figuratively.

From rising phenoms to battle-tested veterans, along with Eala's enthusiastic fan base, the Asian American community's presence is dominating the courts.

Philippine flags fluttered all around Armstrong Court Monday evening in support of the Phiippine sensation who has captured the hearts and hopes of the Filipino diaspora and the Big Apple's media always on the lookout for the next big thing.

Eala’s revenge

Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala is leaving no doubt that she belongs on the grand stage. After dismantling American qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 in her opening match, the 17th seed is moving directly into a high-stakes rematch.

On Thursday, September 3, Eala will face Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova in a second-round blockbuster. There is history here: Oliynykova holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage, having bounced Eala in a grueling three-set battle (3-6, 7-5, 6-3) on the Strasbourg clay back in May. But New York's fast hard courts are Eala's backyard. 

Coming off her maiden WTA 500 title in Washington — where she systematically took down top-tier talent — the 21-year-old trailblazer has the momentum and a fiercely vocal fan base ready to blow the roof off the stadium.

Pegula vs. Fernandez

Fans won't have to wait long for the tournament's first true popcorn match between two former US Open finalists. On Friday, September 4, 3rd seed Jessica Pegula (who is of Korean descent) will clash with 31st seed. Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez, in the Round of 32.

Both stars breezed through their second-round matchups. Pegula cruised past Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1, while Fernandez handled Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. This upcoming Friday showdown marks the fifth professional meeting between the two, with Pegula leading their head-to-head rivalry 3-1.

While Pegula dominated their last meeting under the Miami sun, Fernandez has proven she can disrupt the American's rhythm on fast hard courts. With a spot in the second week on the line, expect absolute fireworks.

Osaka makes a fashion & on-court statement

If you’re talking about cultural impact and tennis royalty at Flushing Meadows, you cannot leave Naomi Osaka out of the conversation. The two-time champion did what she does best: grabbed the spotlight and refused to let go. [

The 13th-seeded Japanese star stepped onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court looking less like a tennis player and more like a Hall of Fame point guard. Rocking a dramatic Nike black-on-black kit complete with a signature headband and arm sleeve, Osaka explicitly stated her look was a tribute to NBA legend Allen Iverson. "He's a trailblazer, and I love expressing myself through style," Osaka told the stadium crowd.

But she brought the game to back up the gear. In a high-tension opening-round match against Russia's energetic Anastasia Zakharova, Osaka shook off some initial post-Toronto rust to secure a tight 7-6(6), 7-6(3) straight-sets victory that wrapped up past midnight. Showing off her lethal serve, she fired 11 aces to shut down any thoughts of a first-round upset.

Osaka will bring her heavyweight game back to the court on Thursday, September 3, for a second-round clash against Czech veteran Kateřina Siniaková. Osaka holds a narrow 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Siniaková, and with her sights set on a third American Grand Slam title, this match promises to be another must-watch chapter of her New York campaign. 

View from the edge

As the US Open rolls into its second week, one thing is abundantly clear: Asian and Asian American players aren’t just participating in tennis’s biggest celebration in Flushing Meadows—they are defining it. 

Whether it's the deafening cheers of "Eala Mania" echoing from Armstrong Court, the high-octane showdowns between established stars, or Osaka redefining court fashion and swagger, this tournament is proving that the future of tennis is vibrant, diverse, and unapologetically bold. 

Don't look away now; the noise is only going to get louder.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Eala Maania descends on the Big Apple's US Open, Barangay New York shows up

Alexandra Eala made the digital covers of Sports Illustrated, left, and Forbes.

UPDATED: 9/31/2026 to correct time element and supplement Barangay NY.

The week before the US Open officially launched, Alexandra Eala was everywhere you looked, on buses, Times Square billboards, visiting US fashion icons, meeting celebrities and on the cover of prestigious publications.

For Asian Americans and the global Filipino diaspora, "Eala-Mania" hitting New York City feels less like a typical tennis marketing push and more like a cultural coronation.

The 21-year-old Filipina phenom is making her highly anticipated US Open main draw debut as the No. 17 seed, but her presence has already taken over the city well before her first official serve. Here is how Eala is dominating the media landscape ahead of her first match Tuesday.

After learning about the massive, enthusiastic crowds Eala attracted at the Washington DC Open which she won, making history with her first WTA win and the Toronto Open, US Open tournament director Eric Butora made sure that Eala’s first-round match was inside one of the event’s two largest stadiums.

“We knew it had to be on a major stadium,” Butorac said in an interview shared by Tennis Channel. “We thought that’s a great place to start.”

Butorac said the crowd for Eala’s Fan Week exhibition against Jovic reinforced the organizers' expectations.

“I don’t know if you guys caught any of that match, but it was electric in there,” Butorac said. “Just a wonderful atmosphere. I mean, unbelievable.”

As expected, resale ticket prices for Eala's Tuesday night’s session at Louis Armstrong Stadium nearly doubled after organizers announced that Eala would face American qualifier Mary Stoiana in primetime.

According to TicketData’s price tracker, the session’s lowest available resale price had remained below $200 before Saturday’s schedule announcement. In  just 12 hours, the price was approaching $400.

Redefining representation in the Big Apple

Eala made history by simultaneously gracing the digital covers of Sports Illustrated and Forbes, putting Filipino athletic excellence and business savvy on the world's most prestigious publications.

New York's Filipino community has turned Flushing Meadows into a raucous home court for Alex Eala, packing her practice sessions and exhibition matches with massive, flag-waving crowds that organizers admit have completely transformed the tournament's typical atmosphere.

Stepping into the fashion spotlight, Nike placed Eala at the center of its New York tennis campaign, debuting her custom royal-blue NikeCourt Slam dress and arranged a digital display featuring the Filipino star. It has already sold out.

Global brands are scrambling for a piece of her star power, with Marriott Bonvoy locking her down as the new face of their international travel campaigns.

The 21-year old Filipino has been meeting with Condé Nast leadership—the publisher behind both Vanity Fair and Vogue—primarily due to her exploding global profile at the intersections of professional sports and high fashion leading to speculation of a major feature in the influential publications.

First match is today

While the hype machine is operating at maximum capacity, the real test begins today under the bright lights of Flushing Meadows.

With her performances in D.C. and Toronto Eala enters the tournament with her highest WTA ranking, 18, and highest tourney seeding, 17. Awaiting Eala in the first round is American Mary Stoiana, currently ranked No. 122 in the world and set to make her US Open main draw debut.

How to watch: Tuesday, Sept. 1, at approximately 8:40 p.m. ET (Wednesday morning, Sept. 2, at 8:40 a.m. Manila time) Broadcast: Live nationwide on ESPN and streaming on the ESPN App

Eala’s meteoric rise is a thrilling moment for Asian representation in a sport that has long looked for its next global icon.

"Barangay New York" is making its presence felt

Dubbed "Barangay New York," local Pinoy tennis supporters have shown up in unprecedented numbers. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) even added extra security protocols around Eala to manage the heavy foot traffic from enthusiastic fans tracking her move across the grounds.

USTA

Filipino fans, a Tagalog lesson and Little Manila were featured in the US Open's newsletter.

The community's passionate, high-decibel cheering style has created massive buzz on social media platforms like Reddit's r/Philippines Community, where local tennis purists are humorously debating spectator etiquette after fans frantically waved flags and roared following opponents' double-faults.

Local kababayans flocked to her pre-tournament meet-and-greet at the Nike Store on Fifth Avenue, instantly buying out the limited-edition Alex Eala apparel.

The hype has drawn prominent global Filipino icons to Flushing Meadows, including reigning NBA champion Ny Knicks' Jordan Clarkson, who stopped by her practice block to personally share messages of support.

New York City has about 94,000 Filipino residents, 54% of them live in Queens, NY, a few subway stops from Flushing Meadows where the US Open is located. In the NYC metro area, there are over 230,000 to 260,000 Filipinos.

Day 1's mixed results for other Asian players

As Day 1 action wrapped up at Flushing Meadows, several other prominent regional stars and next-generation phenoms either stamped their authority on the hard courts or bowed out after valiant battles.

While the media and crowds have focused on Eala, other competitors of Asian heritage have took part in the first day of real competition. Led by Jesssica Pegula nad Leylah Fernandez there were mixed results.

The half-Korean Pegula, world No. 3, kickstarted her tournament on Arthur Ashe Stadium with clinical efficiency. Pegula brushed aside Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in a swift 6-3, 6-2 victory, looking every bit the title contender.

Fernandez,  a half-Filipino Canadian star and 2021 US Open finalist, put on an offensive clinic on Court 17. Fernandez fired 22 winners to eliminate China's veteran Shuai Zhang in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Zheng Qinwen (China), the Olympic champion, successfully navigated the qualifying rounds with a dominant 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 win over Elena Pridankina to reach the main draw.

China's Wu Yibing and Wang Xinyu both opened their 2026 US Open campaigns with straight-sets victories!

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