“Live for the chase. Immense gratitude for what I’ve been through this week. US Open ’26, a forever kind of memory.”

Those 21 words, posted by Alex Eala on Instagram after her New York campaign closed, framed a US Open exit that a lot of the tennis world was still talking about two days later. The 21-year-old Filipina lost 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to 18-year-old American Iva Jovic on Saturday in a third-round tie that ran three hours and three minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Eala congratulated Jovic with a hug at the net, waved to the crowd, and only broke down in the tunnel on her way off court.

Seles calls for best-of-five

Nine-time Grand Slam singles champion Monica Seles was among those watching, and she shared her reaction on Instagram.

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“Last night’s US Open match was on 🔥. The intensity in every single point was 🙈. I wish it was a 3 out of a 5 set match as I didn’t want it to end.”

Jovic advances to meet Gauff

Jovic was still holding back tears when the media asked her about her opponent.

“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. Even in the locker room behind closed doors, that just says a lot about her and her character,” Jovic said of Eala after the match.

Her reward is a fourth-round meeting with fourth seed Coco Gauff on Ashe.

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Eala, who arrived in New York as the highest-seeded Filipina in Grand Slam history at 17, found the upside quickly.

“I do think I have grown as a player since the last time we played each other. And I definitely think I had my chances in this match. I’m happy with the match. Of course, there’s disappointment in losing, but I’m trying to see the positive side. The level in this match was really high,” she said.

Wimbledon run still fresh

The New York exit sits inside a season Eala has spent adding lines to the Philippine tennis record book. In July she beat defending champion Iga Świątek 7-6, 6-2 on her way to the fourth round at Wimbledon, her best Grand Slam result to date, before losing to Jasmine Paolini in the last 16.

Jovic and Gauff meet in the fourth round on Monday in New York.

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