Louis Armstrong Stadium is ready to rock, as world No. 18 Alexandra Eala hits the US Open court for tonight’s first-round matchup against No. 122 Mary Stoiana.
Hot off her first WTA title win at the DC Open, Eala has become a tennis sensation drawing a massive fanbase in her native Philippines and beyond.
“At the forefront of everything is gratitude: I’m very grateful for the support that my fans give me and that my supporters give me,” Eala said.
Eala looks to better her second-round 2025 US Open exit, carrying a career-best No. 18 ranking into the season’s final Grand Slam — the highest-ever WTA standing for a Southeast Asian player.
“She brings such a amazing crowd, even for practice,” former No. 1 Naomi Osaka said of Eala. “She’s got a really solid head on her shoulders.”
JWS went behind the scenes this week, digging into the 21-year-old’s meteoric stardom in The DNA Of: Alex Eala’s Rise.
Eala kicks off her 2026 US Open run tonight at 8:40 PM ET (ESPN).
