Alex Eala began her 2026 US Open women’s singles campaign with an impressive victory, defeating American qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6‑1, 6‑2, at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Playing in front of a predominantly Filipino crowd, the 17th‑seeded Eala controlled the match for most of its 1‑hour, 18‑minute duration. The 21‑year‑old Filipina dictated the pace with her aggressive shotmaking, while Stoiana struggled to consistently match her intensity.
Alex Eala Takes Command Early
Eala encountered some early resistance, facing two break points in the opening game after committing several errors. She managed to withstand the pressure and hold serve, setting the tone for what followed.
The Filipina then broke Stoiana twice while comfortably protecting her own service games to build a commanding 5‑0 lead.
The American qualifier, ranked No. 122 in the world and making her Grand Slam main‑draw debut, avoided a first‑set bagel by holding serve in the sixth game. Eala quickly responded with another service hold, wrapping up the opening set, 6‑1, in just 31 minutes.
Eala’s efficiency was evident throughout the set, as she used her first serve effectively to dictate rallies and finished with a significant advantage in winners.
Stoiana Fights Back, But Eala Responds
The second set proved more competitive. Stoiana came out with renewed confidence and finally managed to put Eala under sustained pressure.
The American took a 2‑1 lead and even created break‑point opportunities in the following game. Eala, however, remained composed and fought back to hold serve and level the set.
After both players exchanged service holds, Eala found the breakthrough she needed in the fifth game, breaking Stoiana to move ahead, 3‑2.
From there, the Filipina seized control once again. She continued applying pressure from the baseline and eventually secured another break to move within one game of victory.
Stoiana tried to extend the match in the eighth game, taking a 30‑0 lead on Eala’s serve. But Eala recovered, forced the game to deuce, and capitalized on consecutive return errors to complete the straight‑set victory.
The win mirrored their previous meeting, as Eala had already defeated Stoiana in straight sets at the 2024 ITF W100 Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Eala acknowledged that Stoiana made the match challenging, particularly during the early stages of the second set.
“Yeah, of course it was very difficult. Every exchange had its own challenges, especially in the start of the second set. I think she put me in uncomfortable positions,” Eala said after the match.
“She’s been having a great run, coming from qualis in a good past couple of weeks. So I’m really happy with this match,” she added.
Alex Eala Looks Ahead to Oleksandra Oliynykova
The victory also marked another milestone in Alex Eala’s young career. Four years after winning the US Open Girls’ Singles title, she returned to New York as a seeded player in the women’s main draw.
Next up for the 17th seed is a second‑round showdown against Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, ranked No. 46 in the world. Oliynykova advanced after defeating American Reese Brantmeier, 6‑4, 6‑4.
The matchup also presents Eala with an opportunity for revenge, as Oliynykova defeated her in three sets during the first round of the WTA 500 Internationaux de Strasbourg last May.
It was also Alex Eala’s second professional US Open singles victory, matching her result from last year when she reached the second round after defeating then‑14th seed Clara Tauson in a dramatic three‑set battle.
