Alexandra Eala needed just 77 minutes to open her 2026 US Open campaign with a convincing win.
The No. 17 seed from the Philippines beat US qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday night. Playing under the lights at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Alex Eala controlled the match from the very first game.
Alexandra Eala Kickstarts 2026 US Open Campaign
The buzz started before the first serve. After the US Open slotted Eala into the night session, secondary-market ticket prices spiked to nearly $400 each. Her fans showed up loud, waving Filipino flags after every point she won.
Stoiana, a former Texas A&M standout, came in riding momentum from three straight qualifying victories. It was the 23-year-old's first Grand Slam main-draw appearance. But Eala never let her find a rhythm. She saved all six break points she faced and converted four of her own.
That composure has defined Eala's entire summer on the hard courts.
At Wimbledon, she reached the fourth round of a major for the first time in her career. Shortly after, she captured a WTA title in Washington, DC. In all, she's won nine of her last 11 hard-court matches heading into Flushing Meadows.
What's Next for Alex Eala at the US Open
Now Eala moves on to face Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round on Thursday. It marks her second straight year advancing past the US Open opener.
Should she keep rolling, a potential third-round clash with close friend and No. 14 seed Iva Jovic awaits.
