Former US Open junior champions Alexandra Eala and Joao Fonseca are on the precipice of history at the 2024 US Open after both teenagers won their second-round qualifying matches in Queens on Wednesday: playing in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time.
Eala, who in 2022 became the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam title of any kind, is hoping the third time will be the charm for her this year to break that professional milestone. The 19-year-old, who trains at Rafael Nadal's namesake academy in Mallorca, Spain, lost in the final round of qualifying at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, but matched her best-ever Grand Slam singles result in her fledgling professional career by defeating Spanish No. 15 seed Nuria Parrizas Diaz 7-5, 7-5 in front of a standing-room-only Court 13 as day turned to evening.
With chants of "Let's go, Alex!" (she prefers that to the formal Alexandra), Eala staved off a game effort from the wily Spanish veteran, who is ranked 50 spots ahead of her and, at 33 years old, started to play professional tennis two years after Eala was born.
The left-hander, ranked No. 148, needed two opportunities to serve out both sets, responding well to the adversity that came with losing serve in each of them when ahead 5-4. In the first set, she failed to convert two set points in that game, but held serve at love at 6-5 to clinch it later, and bounced back after getting broken for the first time in the second set from 30-0 up as she aimed to win the match.
Fonseca, meanwhile, is back at the US Open for the first time as a pro after winning the 2023 boys' singles title: the third Brazilian junior boy to ever win a singles major. The win also propelled him to the year-end No. 1 boys' ITF ranking, which was a national first.
After originally committing to play college tennis at the University of Virginia, the Brazilian announced his intention to turn professional in February, shortly after becoming the first player born in 2006 to win an ATP Tour match on home soil in Rio de Janeiro in February.
“It was an incredibly tough decision for me and my family as I have been dreaming about living a college life in Charlottesville, playing the sport that l love with a wonderful team and coach, but, in the last months, professional tennis called me in a way that I simply couldn't say ‘no’,” shared Fonseca in a statement on his Instagram.
“Although I will not be attending school, I think it is an extremely valuable and viable path for young tennis players [on] their way to professional careers.”
Fonseca lost in the opening round of qualifying at Wimbledon, his first appearance at a Grand Slam tournament, making his 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 upset over No. 9 qualifying seed Lukas Klein on Monday already notable. A round later, the world No. 163 was a favorite, and played like it in his 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Calvin Hemery, the world No. 200.
On Thursday, Eala will face No. 20 seed, and former world No. 51, Elena-Gabriela Ruse for a spot in the main draw. Fonseca, meanwhile, will face former University of Texas standout Eliot Spizzirri.
