We finally know who Alex Eala will face first at the 2026 US Open — at least in mixed doubles.
And it’s quite a matchup.
The Filipina tennis star and Canadian partner Félix Auger-Aliassime have been drawn against husband-and-wife team Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils in the opening round of the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship.
The matchup is now confirmed in the official US Open mixed doubles draw, so this is no longer a possible pairing or projection. It’s happening.
For Filipino tennis fans, this will be the first competitive match to watch during what promises to be a very busy US Open for Eala.
And if Alex and Félix can win?
Things could get even more interesting very quickly.
Here’s the latest Alex Eala update as of August 24, 2026, including her mixed doubles draw, opponents, potential path through the tournament and what comes next in women’s singles.
Content
It’s Official: Eala and Auger-Aliassime vs. Svitolina and Monfils
The official US Open draw has placed:
Alex Eala 🇵🇭 / Félix Auger-Aliassime 🇨🇦
against
Elina Svitolina 🇺🇦 / Gaël Monfils 🇫🇷
in the first round of mixed doubles.
Honestly, this is one of those matchups that’s immediately interesting even before anyone hits a ball.
On one side, you have Eala and Auger-Aliassime — two popular players joining forces for one of the US Open’s showcase events.
On the other, you have one of professional tennis’ most famous couples.
Svitolina and Monfils are married and have been together for years, so there should be no shortage of chemistry on their side of the court.
The US Open previously highlighted their decision to play together as part of Monfils’ farewell appearance in New York.
That gives this opening-round match another interesting storyline.
Alex isn’t simply playing another mixed doubles team.
She’s playing against two highly experienced singles stars who know each other about as well as two tennis players possibly could.
When Will Alex Eala Play?
The US Open Mixed Doubles Championship runs from August 24 to 26 during Fan Week in New York.
However, August 24 is primarily for qualifying.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime are already in the 16-team main draw through a wild card, so they don’t need to qualify. The main-draw first round and quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, August 25.
The schedule is:
August 24 — Qualifying
August 25 — First Round and Quarterfinals
August 26 — Semifinals and Final
The August 25 action begins at 10 a.m. New York time at Louis Armstrong Stadium and 11 a.m. at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The exact court and match time for Eala/Auger-Aliassime vs. Svitolina/Monfils should be confirmed through the official order of play.
For fans watching from the Philippines, remember that New York is 12 hours behind Philippine time during this period.
That means an 11 a.m. match in New York would be 11 p.m. in the Philippines.
A later match could therefore fall after midnight Philippine time.
Who Are Eala’s Opponents?
This isn’t exactly an easy first-round draw.
Elina Svitolina
Svitolina has been one of the most accomplished women’s players of her generation.
She’s a former World No. 3, a multiple-time Grand Slam semifinalist and an Olympic medalist.
But there’s another interesting connection here.
Alex Eala has already beaten Svitolina this year.
During Eala’s remarkable run to the Washington title, she defeated Svitolina in straight sets in the quarterfinals.
The WTA described it as Eala’s sixth Top 10 victory of the 2026 season.
Of course, mixed doubles is completely different from singles.
But at least Alex knows what it’s like to stand across the net from Svitolina and win.
Gaël Monfils
Then there’s Monfils.
The French veteran has been one of the most entertaining players in men’s tennis for years.
He’s known for incredible athleticism, spectacular defense, creative shot-making and the kind of highlight-reel tennis that can turn an ordinary rally into something completely ridiculous.
The 2026 US Open also carries extra significance for him because Monfils plans to retire at the end of the season. Reuters reported that he received a US Open singles wild card while also entering mixed doubles with Svitolina.
That could make the crowd particularly supportive of the couple.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime will have to deal with that atmosphere.
Why the Eala-Auger-Aliassime Partnership Is Interesting
We’ve never really seen what Alex and Félix can do together.
That’s part of the fun.
Eala’s left-handed game could create interesting angles, particularly when returning serve and working crosscourt.
Auger-Aliassime brings a powerful serve and considerable experience against the very best men’s players.
On paper, there are plenty of tools there.
But mixed doubles isn’t simply about combining two good singles players.
Positioning matters.
Communication matters.
Net play matters.
And chemistry matters enormously.
That’s where Svitolina and Monfils could have an obvious advantage.
They’re married.
They know each other’s personalities.
They’ve watched each other’s matches countless times.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime, meanwhile, will have to develop that understanding very quickly.
The US Open Mixed Doubles Format Changes Everything
Another reason this match could be unpredictable is the format.
This isn’t traditional Grand Slam mixed doubles.
The US Open has redesigned the competition into a fast-moving event featuring many of the biggest singles stars in tennis.
Matches through the semifinals use shortened sets to four games, no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a full third set. The final uses longer six-game sets but retains no-ad scoring and a deciding match tiebreak.
That means there’s very little room for error.
In a traditional tennis match, losing serve early isn’t necessarily a disaster.
You have time to recover.
Here?
One bad service game could nearly cost you the entire set.
That makes the opening few points extremely important.
And If Alex and Félix Win?
This is where things get really exciting.
Look at the section of the official draw immediately above Eala and Auger-Aliassime.
The No. 1-seeded team of:
Aryna Sabalenka / Novak Djokovic
faces:
Leylah Fernandez / Frances Tiafoe
in the first round.
The winners of that match are positioned in the same quarter of the bracket as Eala/Auger-Aliassime and Svitolina/Monfils.
So if Alex and Félix win their opener, their quarterfinal would be against the winner of that blockbuster matchup.
Yes.
That means we could potentially get:
Alex Eala and Félix Auger-Aliassime vs. Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka.
Just imagine that.
Alex Eala vs. Novak Djokovic?
Obviously, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Four players need to get through their respective first-round matches before that can happen.
But the draw has made it a legitimate possibility.
And from a Philippine sports perspective, it would be massive.
Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam men’s singles champion and one of the greatest tennis players in history.
Sabalenka has been one of the dominant forces in women’s tennis.
And Alex Eala potentially sharing a competitive US Open court with both of them would have been almost unimaginable for Filipino tennis fans just a few years ago.
Now?
It’s sitting there in the bracket as a possible quarterfinal.
That alone tells you how far Alex has come.
But Don’t Overlook Svitolina and Monfils
It’s tempting to immediately start talking about Djokovic and Sabalenka.
But Alex has a difficult first match to win first.
Svitolina and Monfils aren’t simply a celebrity pairing.
They’re two extremely experienced professional players.
Svitolina remains a dangerous competitor on the women’s tour, while Monfils has spent much of his career competing at the highest level of men’s tennis.
And the shortened format makes upsets and momentum swings much more likely.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime can’t afford to look ahead.
Neither should we.
The Entire Mixed Doubles Field Is Loaded
The Eala-Svitolina matchup is only one part of an extraordinary draw.
The official field also includes teams such as:
Aryna Sabalenka / Novak Djokovic
Jessica Pegula / Taylor Fritz
Iga Swiatek / Casper Ruud
Amanda Anisimova / Learner Tien
Belinda Bencic / Flavio Cobolli
Serena Williams / Carlos Alcaraz
Leylah Fernandez / Frances Tiafoe
Taylor Townsend / Alexander Zverev
along with defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
Yes, Serena Williams is back in the mix too.
The US Open confirmed that Williams and Carlos Alcaraz received one of the final mixed doubles wild cards, making an already star-studded event even bigger.
It’s almost like an All-Star Game for tennis.
Except the matches count.
And there’s a championship on the line.
Why Is Mixed Doubles Happening Before Singles?
If you’re wondering why Alex is already playing when the main US Open singles competition hasn’t started yet, that’s because the tournament revamped its mixed doubles championship.
Instead of playing it alongside the main singles tournament over nearly two weeks, mixed doubles now takes place during US Open Fan Week.
For 2026, the event runs from August 24 through August 26, while the main US Open singles competition starts later.
The idea is to put mixed doubles in the spotlight rather than having it compete for attention with the men’s and women’s singles tournaments.
And judging by this year’s field, the strategy is certainly attracting big names.
What About Alex Eala’s Singles Campaign?
This is important.
The Svitolina/Monfils matchup has nothing to do with Eala’s women’s singles draw.
This is mixed doubles.
Eala will still compete separately in the US Open women’s singles main draw.
Her singles campaign is the bigger story from a ranking and Grand Slam perspective.
So even if Alex and Félix lose in mixed doubles, her US Open isn’t over.
Not even close.
Her women’s singles campaign would still be ahead.
Alex’s Latest Singles Result
There is also no new singles result to report as of August 24.
Eala’s most recent official singles match remains her Cincinnati Open encounter against Amanda Anisimova.
Alex took the opening set before Anisimova recovered to win:
4-6, 6-4, 6-2
It ended Eala’s Cincinnati campaign, but it didn’t change what has otherwise been an extraordinary North American hard-court swing.
Remember What Alex Did in Washington
Before Cincinnati, Eala produced arguably the greatest tournament run of her professional career.
She won the Mubadala DC Open, defeating a remarkable collection of opponents along the way:
Qinwen Zheng.
Leylah Fernandez.
Elina Svitolina.
Naomi Osaka.
Jessica Pegula.
And that Svitolina victory suddenly becomes relevant again.
Alex defeated her in singles in Washington.
Now they’re meeting again in New York.
Different tournament.
Different discipline.
Different partners.
But the familiarity is there.
From Facing Svitolina in Singles to Mixed Doubles
That’s actually one of my favorite little storylines in this draw.
Only weeks ago, Eala and Svitolina were standing alone on opposite sides of the net fighting for a place in the Washington semifinals.
Now they’ll meet again.
Except this time Svitolina has her husband beside her.
And Alex has Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Tennis moves quickly.
A Busy US Open Week for Alex
Mixed doubles isn’t the only thing on Eala’s schedule.
She is also due to participate in Stars of the Open during Fan Week.
Alex is scheduled to face American youngster Iva Jovic in the exhibition event at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Again, it’s important not to confuse that with her actual first-round US Open women’s singles match.
Stars of the Open is an exhibition.
Her Grand Slam singles campaign comes separately.
That means Filipino fans could potentially see Eala several times within a short period:
Mixed doubles.
Possibly another mixed doubles match if she advances.
Stars of the Open.
And then women’s singles.
Not bad for one week.
What Should Filipino Fans Watch Next?
The next thing we need is the official order of play for August 25.
That’s when we’ll get the exact court and start time for:
Alex Eala / Félix Auger-Aliassime vs. Elina Svitolina / Gaël Monfils
Once that is released, fans in the Philippines can calculate exactly when to stay awake.
And yes, there’s a good chance this could become another late-night or early-morning Alex Eala viewing session for Filipino fans.
We’re getting used to those.
Why This Match Matters
Does winning the US Open mixed doubles title carry the same significance for Eala’s singles ranking as going deep in women’s singles?
No.
They’re separate competitions.
But this event still matters.
It gives Alex experience on the US Open courts.
It puts her alongside some of the biggest stars in tennis.
It exposes her to another high-pressure environment.
And perhaps most importantly, it gives her an opportunity to settle into New York before the women’s singles tournament begins.
If Eala and Auger-Aliassime can make a deep run, that’s a bonus.
If they somehow win the whole thing?
That becomes another historic chapter entirely.
Alex Eala US Open Latest Update at a Glance
Here’s where things stand as of August 24, 2026:
Current tournament: US Open
Event: Mixed Doubles Championship
Partner: Félix Auger-Aliassime 🇨🇦
First-round opponents: Elina Svitolina 🇺🇦 / Gaël Monfils 🇫🇷
Main-draw first round: August 25
Potential quarterfinal: Winner of Sabalenka/Djokovic vs. Fernandez/Tiafoe
Mixed doubles semifinals/final: August 26
Women’s singles: Still to come
Latest singles result: Lost to Amanda Anisimova at Cincinnati, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
The most important change from yesterday is simple:
Alex finally has an opponent.
And it’s a very interesting one.
Final Thoughts
Alex Eala’s 2026 US Open is about to officially get underway.
Her first challenge comes alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime against Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils.
It’s experienced couple versus brand-new partnership.
Svitolina’s consistency and Monfils’ creativity against Eala’s left-handed aggression and Auger-Aliassime’s power.
And because of the shortened mixed doubles format, we probably won’t have to wait long before the match gets interesting.
But there’s another reason Filipino fans should pay attention.
Look one match further down the bracket.
Sabalenka.
Djokovic.
Fernandez.
Tiafoe.
One of those teams could be waiting in the next round.
For now, though, forget the dream quarterfinal.
First things first.
Alex Eala and Félix Auger-Aliassime have a US Open match to win.
And on August 25, Eala’s latest New York adventure officially begins.
