Alex Eala battles untested American qualifier to begin US Open

RETURN. The Philippines' Alex Eala in action during the Stars of the Open exhibition event in the 2026 US Open.

Eyeing a deep run in the last major of the year, Alex Eala launches her US Open campaign against American qualifier Mary Stoiana, who sees action in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time ever.

AT A GLANCE

• Alex Eala, seeded 17th and ranked 18th, faces American qualifier Mary Stoiana in the first round of the US Open, marking a shift from her previous struggles in qualifying rounds.
• Eala has achieved significant milestones in her career, including historic wins against top players like Iga Swiatek and Clara Tauson, showcasing her growth and experience in high-stakes matches.
• Stoiana, competing in her first Grand Slam main draw, faces Eala as her first top-20 opponent, highlighting the unpredictability of matches and the importance of consistency in performance.

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MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala used to fight her way through the qualifying rounds just to earn a spot in a Grand Slam main draw. Now, the tables have turned as she faces a qualifier to open her US Open campaign.

Eala battles American world No. 122 Mary Stoiana in the first round at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York, on Tuesday, September 1 (Wednesday, September 2, Manila time).

Seeded 17th and ranked 18th in the world, Eala enters the matchup as the heavy favorite to advance, having already proven she can win on a Grand Slam stage. 

Last year in the US Open, she stunned Denmark’s Clara Tauson to become the first Filipino to win a major main draw match in the Open Era.

Eala then took another historic step in the Wimbledon Championships in July, dethroning Poland’s Iga Swiatek to reach the fourth round and once again becoming the first Filipino to achieve the feat.

“I think I’ve experienced so much growth in the past year and so many milestones in my career. I think there’s so many lessons in particular in terms of, you know, I’ve gotten to work closely with so many, so many amazing tennis players,” said Eala.

“I’ve gotten to experience more of their work ethic, obviously being in this environment a lot more. And I’ve gotten to compete against the best of the best a lot more frequently.” 

Eala has proven to be a giant killer as she owns a 7-3 record against top-10 opponents this year, with her victims including Swiatek, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, USA’s Jessica Pegula, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, USA’s Coco Gauff, and Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. 

While Eala has been in his position before, Stoiana treads into uncharted territory as she competes in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time in her career after overcoming France’s Harmony Tan, Great Britain’s Katie Swan, and China’s Yue Yuan in the qualifying.

In fact, the match against Eala marks Stoiana’s first-ever meeting with a top-20 opponent.

But Eala knows better than most not to underestimate an opponent, having once navigated the lower ranks herself.

“When you’re winning, you’re not that good. And when you’re losing, you’re not that bad. Even though now, maybe I’m top 20, even when I was 70 or something like that, the level, the difference is [marginal]. I think the huge difference comes in the consistency of how often you’re able to execute that level,” Eala told Andy Roddick’s Served. 

“In individual matches, or even in trainings, anything can happen.” 

A victory over Stoiana will propel Eala to a second-round clash against the winner between Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova and USA’s Reese Brantmeier.

Eala’s bracket includes world No. 4 Gauff and another American in Iva Jovic, who is ranked No. 14. – Rappler.com