Alex Eala made quick work of her first-round match at the 2026 U.S. Open against American qualifier Mary Stoiana, winning in straight sets in a lopsided first meeting.
The 21-year-old Filipino tennis phenom dominated in the first set, winning 28 points and breaking Stoiana twice to sweep five games in a row.
The second set proved to be a tougher match with Stoiana taking an early lead in the first three games before Eala leveled things at 2-2, then broke in the fifth game to regain the lead at 3-2. She then held serve, followed by a decisive break point in the contentious seventh game, which she won to serve for the match. In the last game, Stoiana had an early cushion at 0-30, with a shaky Eala on serve. The world No. 18 quickly caught up in time to force a deuce, and won the match at the first time of asking.
This first-round match is one of the most anticipated in the tournament, with the U.S. Open tournament director already anticipating the demand and deciding to schedule Eala in the second-biggest show court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center: the 14,053-seater Louis Armstrong Stadium. Reports said resale prices for Eala-Stoiana match doubled to nearly $400 (approximately P25,000) after the schedule was announced.
As usual, Eala had her Filipino fans rallying behind her, as is expected of her U.S. Open appearance given that New York has a big Filipino community estimated to be at a quarter million in the metro area alone.
Eala matches her one U.S. Open main draw win from last year and is set to meet current world no. 46, the Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova, in the round of 64. They last encountered each other in May in Strasbourg, where the defensive Oliynykova took the better of Eala in a three-set battle (3-6, 7-5, 6-3). If the Filipina tennis player wins over the Ukrainian, she will likely face her former doubles partner, current world no. 14, Iva Jovic, in the third round. They last figured in a special exhibition match a week before this year’s U.S. Open officially commenced. The American holds a 2-0 record over Eala.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alex Eala is currently ranked as the world No. 18 entering the 2026 U.S. Open?
Yes, Alex Eala received a No. 17 seed for the U.S. Open this year.
Alex Eala’s first-round match for the U.S. Open 2026 was against the American qualifier Mary Stoiana.
Alex Eala’s first-round match with Mary Stoiana was held at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Alex Eala faces world no. 46, the Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova, in the round of 64.
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