Alex Eala is heading back to New York — and this time, she arrives at the US Open as one of the players tennis fans will genuinely be watching.
The 2026 US Open comes at an exciting point in Eala’s career. She has already made history this season, captured her first WTA Tour singles title in Washington, reached a career-high level around the world’s Top 20, and proved that she can compete with — and beat — some of the biggest names in women’s tennis.
Now comes another major test.
Eala is officially entered in the 2026 US Open women’s singles main draw, and she will also compete in the revamped US Open Mixed Doubles Championship with Canadian star Félix Auger-Aliassime.
So yes, Filipino tennis fans could be seeing a lot of Alex Eala in New York.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to Alex Eala at the US Open 2026, including her schedule, mixed doubles partnership, singles status, recent form, past US Open performances, and what to expect.
Content
Alex Eala Is Officially in the 2026 US Open Main Draw
Let’s start with the most important confirmation.
Alex Eala is officially part of the 2026 US Open women’s singles main draw.
The US Open’s official entry list dated August 17 includes Alexandra Eala of the Philippines among the direct entrants for the 128-player women’s field.
That means Eala does not have to go through qualifying.
For fans who have followed her rise over the past few seasons, that alone shows how much her career has changed.
She is no longer trying to fight her way into Grand Slam main draws from the outside.
She belongs there.
When Is the US Open 2026?
The overall 2026 US Open runs from August 23 to September 13, 2026, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. The women’s and men’s singles main draws begin on Sunday, August 30.
For Eala, however, the action could begin even earlier because of her mixed doubles participation.
Here’s the important timeline:
August 23–29: US Open Fan Week
August 24: Mixed doubles qualifying
August 25: Mixed doubles first round and quarterfinals
August 26: Mixed doubles semifinals and final
August 27: Stars of the Open exhibition event
August 30: Singles main draw begins
September 12: Women’s singles final
September 13: Final day of the tournament
The official US Open schedule confirms that the mixed doubles championship will be staged before the singles main draw begins.
That could make Eala’s opening week in New York unusually busy.
Who Will Alex Eala Face in the First Round?
As of August 18, 2026, Alex Eala’s first-round singles opponent has not yet been determined.
That’s because the official men’s and women’s singles draws are scheduled to be revealed on August 26.
So for now, this is one of the biggest Alex Eala updates Filipino fans should watch.
Once the draw comes out, we’ll know several important things immediately:
- Eala’s first-round opponent
- which section of the draw she landed in
- which seeded players could potentially stand in her path
- possible second- and third-round opponents
- whether she landed in a relatively favorable or extremely difficult section
And considering how strong the women’s field is, the draw could make a huge difference.
Alex Eala Will Partner With Félix Auger-Aliassime in Mixed Doubles
One of the most exciting parts of Eala’s 2026 US Open campaign won’t actually be singles.
She will also compete in mixed doubles alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
The US Open officially confirmed Eala and Auger-Aliassime as one of the wild-card teams in the 2026 Mixed Doubles Championship.
That’s a very interesting pairing.
Eala brings a left-handed game, aggressive groundstrokes and the confidence that comes from her strong 2026 season.
Auger-Aliassime brings years of experience competing near the top of the men’s game along with one of the more powerful serves on the ATP Tour.
Mixed doubles can be unpredictable, especially in the US Open’s faster format, but that’s also part of what makes this partnership so intriguing.
US Open Mixed Doubles 2026 Format
The US Open’s mixed doubles event has a different structure from a normal Grand Slam doubles tournament.
For 2026, the main draw includes 16 teams.
The competition runs primarily across August 25 and 26, following qualifying on August 24.
From qualifying through the semifinals, matches use a shortened format:
Sets are played to four games, no-ad scoring is used, and a 10-point match tiebreak replaces a traditional third set.
The final changes slightly, with sets played to six games while still using no-ad scoring and a 10-point deciding tiebreak.
In other words, there isn’t much room for a slow start.
A few bad points can completely change the match.
That could make the Eala-Auger-Aliassime partnership particularly fun to watch.
The Mixed Doubles Field Is Loaded
And they’re going to have serious competition.
Among the confirmed teams are:
Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic
Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli
Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien
There are also wild-card combinations including Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev, and Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils.
That’s basically a collection of Grand Slam champions, world No. 1s and some of the biggest names in tennis.
So even getting invited into this field says a lot about how much Eala’s profile has grown.
Imagine an Eala vs. Anisimova Rematch
There’s also one potential storyline worth watching.
Amanda Anisimova — the player who just defeated Eala at the Cincinnati Open — will be competing in mixed doubles with Learner Tien.
That doesn’t guarantee they’ll meet.
But imagine if they do.
Eala and Anisimova just played a three-set match in Cincinnati, with the American winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 after Eala took the opening set.
A mixed doubles rematch in New York would instantly become one of the more interesting storylines for Filipino fans.
Alex Eala’s Form Heading Into the US Open
Eala isn’t entering New York hoping to suddenly find her best tennis.
She has already been playing some of the best tennis of her career.
The biggest moment came at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, where she defeated Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the final to win her first WTA Tour-level singles championship.
The victory made Eala the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level singles title.
Her Washington run was particularly impressive because she didn’t have an easy path.
She defeated Qinwen Zheng, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula on her way to the championship.
That wasn’t one lucky upset.
That was an entire tournament of beating elite opposition.
Eala Reached the Top 20
The Washington championship also pushed Eala toward another historic milestone.
Following the victory over Pegula, Reuters reported that she was set to rise to a career-high World No. 20.
That is another huge change compared with where she stood heading into previous Grand Slams.
Instead of being viewed simply as a dangerous young outsider, Eala is increasingly entering tournaments as someone other players genuinely don’t want to draw early.
That changes expectations.
Her Cincinnati Open Run
Eala’s final tournament before the US Open was the Cincinnati Open.
She opened her campaign against Elena-Gabriela Ruse, advancing after Ruse retired while Eala was leading.
That gave her a Round of 32 showdown against Amanda Anisimova.
Eala took the opening set before Anisimova came back to win:
4-6, 6-4, 6-2
It wasn’t the result Eala wanted, but there were still encouraging signs.
She pushed a world-class opponent to three sets and once again showed that she can compete at that level.
And now she gets a little time to regroup before New York.
Alex Eala Already Has Special US Open History
The US Open isn’t just another Grand Slam for Eala.
This tournament has played a huge role in her career.
Back in 2022, Eala won the US Open girls’ singles championship after defeating Lucie Havlickova 6-2, 6-4 in the final.
That victory made her the first Filipina to win a junior Grand Slam singles title.
It was one of the first major moments when Filipino sports fans started realizing just how special Eala could become.
Years later, she’s returning to the same venue as an established professional.
That’s quite a journey.
Her Breakthrough at the 2025 US Open
Eala also created another memorable moment in New York during the 2025 US Open.
She defeated No. 14 seed Clara Tauson in the opening round in dramatic fashion.
Eala won:
6-3, 2-6, 7-6(11)
Even more impressive?
She had to come back from 5-1 down in the deciding set before eventually completing the upset.
It was another example of the fighting spirit that has become one of Eala’s trademarks.
The victory also gave her another important Grand Slam breakthrough on the same courts where she had won the junior title three years earlier.
2026 Feels Different
But this year’s US Open feels different from those previous appearances.
In 2022, Eala arrived as a junior prospect.
In 2025, she arrived as a rising player hoping to make noise.
In 2026?
She arrives as a WTA champion and one of the season’s biggest breakout names.
The US Open itself has even identified Eala as one of its players to watch heading into this year’s tournament.
That’s an important shift.
The spotlight is getting bigger.
So are the expectations.
Eala Will Also Appear at Stars of the Open
Before the singles tournament gets underway, Eala is also scheduled to participate in the Stars of the Open event during Fan Week.
The exhibition is scheduled for August 27 at 6:00 PM at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The event raises money for the USTA Foundation while giving fans a chance to see some of the biggest personalities in tennis in a more relaxed environment.
For Eala, inclusion in this event is another sign of her growing international profile.
She’s becoming part of the US Open’s promotional story — not merely another name in the draw.
Where Is the US Open Played?
The tournament takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Its centerpiece is Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the complex and the stage for many of the tournament’s biggest matches.
Whether Eala eventually gets an Arthur Ashe Stadium singles match will depend on her opponent and how far she progresses.
But considering her growing following — especially among Filipino and Filipino-American fans — don’t be surprised if tournament organizers give her prominent court assignments.
Filipino Fans Could Be a Major Factor
One thing we’ve learned from Eala’s recent tournaments is that Filipinos will show up.
And loudly.
Her Washington title run created tremendous support, with Filipino fans turning her matches into something that sometimes felt almost like home-court tennis.
The Guardian reported that interest surrounding Eala during the Washington tournament was enormous, with tournament director Mark Ein saying most ticketing inquiries they received were related to when she would play.
Now put that support in New York.
The New York metropolitan area has a significant Filipino community, while thousands more fans will undoubtedly follow from the Philippines.
Expect plenty of Philippine flags in the stands whenever Eala plays.
What Should We Expect From Alex Eala at the US Open?
This is where things get interesting.
Should we expect Eala to win the tournament?
That’s obviously asking a lot.
Grand Slams are incredibly difficult.
Seven matches.
Two weeks.
A field packed with the best players in the world.
But can she make another deep run?
Absolutely.
Her recent performances have shown that she can beat elite players.
She has the ability to attack from the baseline, create difficult angles with her left-handed game and compete mentally in tight matches.
Perhaps most importantly, she no longer appears intimidated by big names.
That matters enormously at Grand Slam level.
The First-Round Draw Will Be Crucial
Still, a lot will depend on the draw.
The women’s field includes stars such as Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva, Iga Swiatek, Amanda Anisimova, Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic, among many others.
Some sections of the draw will inevitably be much tougher than others.
If Eala avoids one of the strongest contenders early, there’s a realistic opportunity to build momentum.
And once Eala gets momentum, we’ve already seen what can happen.
Could Alex Eala Make a Deep Grand Slam Run?
There’s another reason expectations are rising.
Eala has already demonstrated this season that she can perform at Grand Slam level.
Her results throughout 2026 — combined with the Washington championship — suggest that reaching the second week of a major is no longer an unrealistic goal.
That’s probably the biggest change in how Filipino fans should view her.
Before, winning one Grand Slam match felt historic.
Now, we’re starting to ask:
Can she reach the quarterfinals?
Can she beat another Top 10 player?
Can she eventually contend for a Grand Slam title?
Those are very different questions.
And that’s progress.
Why the US Open Could Suit Eala
The US Open is played on hard courts, which should feel familiar to Eala after spending much of the North American summer competing on the same surface.
She has already played tournaments in Washington, Toronto and Cincinnati leading into New York.
That gives her several weeks of match experience on North American hard courts.
There’s also something about New York that seems to bring out memorable performances from her.
Junior Grand Slam champion in 2022.
Dramatic main-draw upset in 2025.
What comes next in 2026?
Alex Eala US Open 2026 Schedule
As of August 18, here’s what we currently know.
August 24: US Open mixed doubles qualifying begins, though Eala and Auger-Aliassime are already in the main draw via wild card.
August 25: Mixed doubles first round and quarterfinals.
August 26: Mixed doubles semifinals and championship match. The women’s singles draw is also due to be revealed around this stage of Fan Week.
August 27: Eala participates in Stars of the Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
August 30 onward: Women’s singles main-draw competition begins.
Her exact first-round singles match date and time will depend on the draw and official order of play.
What Filipino Fans Should Watch Next
The next several updates could all become major stories.
First, watch for the mixed doubles draw, which will reveal the first opponents for Eala and Auger-Aliassime.
Then comes the women’s singles draw on August 26.
After that, attention shifts to the actual order of play and Eala’s exact first-round match schedule.
Those announcements will give us a much clearer picture of her path through the tournament.
Can Eala and Auger-Aliassime Win the Mixed Doubles Title?
Don’t dismiss the possibility.
The field is extremely strong, but the short mixed doubles format can produce surprises.
Traditional rankings don’t necessarily tell the whole story.
Communication, return positioning, serving patterns and quick chemistry can matter enormously.
And because matches are shortened through the semifinals, one strong stretch of tennis could send a team deep into the competition very quickly.
A title would be another extraordinary addition to Eala’s growing list of achievements.
But even before that happens, simply watching a Filipino player share the court with some of the biggest stars in world tennis is already something special.
From Junior Champion to Grand Slam Contender
Perhaps that’s the most fascinating part of Alex Eala’s US Open story.
We’ve watched her grow up at this tournament.
She first made history here as a junior.
Then she returned as a professional trying to prove herself.
Now she’s coming back as a WTA Tour champion with genuine expectations surrounding her.
It feels like the same story — only at a completely different level.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 US Open could be one of the most important tournaments of Alex Eala’s career so far.
She enters New York with momentum, confidence and considerably more experience than she had during previous Grand Slam appearances.
She has already won a major WTA title this season.
She has defeated some of the best players in women’s tennis.
She has climbed into the conversation among the world’s leading players.
And now she gets another opportunity on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
There are actually two Alex Eala stories to follow at this year’s US Open.
First is her mixed doubles adventure with Félix Auger-Aliassime, beginning during Fan Week.
Then comes the main event: her women’s singles campaign.
Her first-round opponent hasn’t been revealed yet.
Her exact singles schedule isn’t available yet.
And we obviously don’t know how far she’ll go.
But one thing is already clear.
Alex Eala isn’t heading to the US Open simply hoping to participate anymore.
She’s heading there knowing she can beat world-class players.
And Filipino fans will be watching every point.
Because after everything we’ve seen from Alex Eala this year, another historic moment in New York certainly doesn’t feel impossible.
