MANILA — Alex Eala unleashed another statement performance on the Grand Slam stage, crushing American qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, to charge into the second round of the US Open.
With Filipino fans roaring from the stands, the 21-year-old Filipina ace played with authority from start to finish, dictating rallies with aggressive baseline strokes and refusing to give Stoiana any room to dictate the match.
Eala seized the opening set in emphatic fashion, breaking down the American’s resistance with relentless pressure and sharp shot-making.
Stoiana showed more fight in the second set, but Eala never lost control. She weathered the challenge, regained her momentum and closed out the match in convincing fashion, prompting another eruption from the Filipino contingent at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The victory adds another chapter to Eala’s remarkable rise.
Ranked No. 18 in the world and seeded 17th, Eala is carrying the highest Grand Slam seeding ever achieved by a Filipina. Her breakthrough 2026 season has already produced her first WTA singles title in Washington and a memorable Wimbledon run that took her to the fourth round.
At Wimbledon, Eala also scored one of the biggest wins of her career by stunning defending champion Iga Swiatek.
The US Open has been equally special territory for the young Filipina.
Eala won the girls’ singles title in New York in 2022 and later became the first Filipino player in the Open Era to win a singles match in a Grand Slam main draw.
Now she has another chance to make history.
Standing in her way in the second round is Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, who beat American wild card Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4.
The matchup carries an added edge for Eala.
Oliynykova defeated her in Strasbourg last May, rallying from a set down to prevail, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Eala now gets her chance at revenge.
And once again, she will have the Filipino faithful behind her — turning the New York stands into a little piece of home as she hunts for another breakthrough at the US Open.
