The 2026 US Open has not officially started its singles main draw yet, but Filipino tennis fans already have a big reason to wake up early on Friday morning.
Alex Eala will be among the featured players in Stars of the Open 2026, a special exhibition bringing together eight of the most exciting young and established players in tennis for one night at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
For fans in the Philippines, the event happens on Friday, August 28, 2026, beginning at 6:00 a.m. Philippine Time.
Eala will face American rising star and close friend Iva Jovic in the third match of the program.
But Stars of the Open is bigger than just one matchup.
The event includes Amanda Anisimova, Marta Kostyuk, João Fonseca, Learner Tien, Arthur Fils and Alex Michelsen, along with Eala and Jovic. It is one of the major attractions of US Open Fan Week and gives fans a chance to see some of the players expected to become fixtures near the top of professional tennis.
For Filipinos, however, there is little doubt about who will receive most of the attention.
Alex Eala enters Arthur Ashe Stadium not merely as a promising young player anymore. She is now a WTA champion, a Top 20 player and one of the athletes the US Open itself has identified as a major attraction at this year’s tournament.
Here is everything Filipino fans need to know about Stars of the Open 2026.
Content
Stars of the Open 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Stars of the Open presented by Chase |
| Date in New York | Thursday, August 27, 2026 |
| Philippine date | Friday, August 28, 2026 |
| Start time in New York | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| Start time in the Philippines | 6:00 a.m. |
| Venue | Arthur Ashe Stadium |
| Location | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York |
| Number of matches | Four |
| Match format | One set, first to six games |
| Alex Eala’s opponent | Iva Jovic |
| Eala’s match | Third match |
| U.S. broadcast | ESPN+ |
| Event type | Exhibition during US Open Fan Week |
The US Open lists Stars of the Open from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27. That translates to approximately 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in the Philippines on August 28.
What Is Stars of the Open?
If you’re mainly following the US Open because of Alex Eala, you may be wondering exactly what this event is.
Stars of the Open is a tennis exhibition held during US Open Fan Week.
It is not part of the official men’s or women’s singles tournament, and the results do not award ATP or WTA ranking points.
Instead, the event is designed as an entertaining showcase featuring popular players, young stars and some of the athletes expected to become major names in professional tennis.
The 2026 edition marks the fourth consecutive year that Stars of the Open has been held.
And this isn’t taking place on some small practice court.
The players will compete inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the centerpiece of the US Open and the largest tennis stadium in the world.
That alone makes the event special.
Stars of the Open Is Part of US Open Fan Week
Stars of the Open takes place during US Open Fan Week, which runs from August 23 through August 29, 2026.
Fan Week is essentially the build-up to the main US Open singles tournament.
During this period, spectators can watch qualifying matches, player practices and other special events around the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
There are also fan activities, entertainment programs, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, media events and other attractions before the main draw begins.
Stars of the Open is one of Fan Week’s headline ticketed events.
For Filipino viewers following from home, though, it feels almost like an early US Open match day because Alex Eala will already be playing on the tournament’s biggest court.
Complete Stars of the Open 2026 Order of Play
Stars of the Open features four singles exhibitions.
The official order is:
- Amanda Anisimova vs. Marta Kostyuk
- João Fonseca vs. Learner Tien
- Alexandra Eala vs. Iva Jovic
- Arthur Fils vs. Alex Michelsen
Each match is played over one set, with the first player to six games winning.
That format is much shorter than a normal professional tennis match.
Women’s tour matches are typically best-of-three sets, while this exhibition gives each pair only a single set.
That means the action can move quickly.
There isn’t much room for a slow start, either. Falling behind by an early break of serve becomes more difficult to recover from when there is only one set to play.
What Time Is Alex Eala vs. Iva Jovic in the Philippines?
This is probably the most important question for Filipino fans.
Stars of the Open begins at:
Friday, August 28, 2026
6:00 a.m. Philippine Time
But Alex Eala will not necessarily play at 6:00 a.m.
Eala vs. Jovic is the third match of the program.
Anisimova vs. Kostyuk will be played first, followed by Fonseca vs. Tien.
Only after those two matches have finished will Eala and Jovic take the court.
Because tennis matches do not have fixed ending times, the US Open has not given Eala an exact individual start time.
So if you’re planning to watch Alex, tuning in from 6:00 a.m. is the safest option.
The good news is that the one-set format means the first two matches should move faster than full professional matches.
Why the Date Can Be Confusing for Filipino Fans
If you see posts saying Alex Eala is playing on August 27, those are not necessarily wrong.
August 27 is the date in New York.
But because the Philippines is 12 hours ahead of New York at this time of the year, it will already be August 28 here.
So remember:
New York: Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Philippines: Friday, August 28 at 6:00 a.m.
For Philippine audiences, August 28 is the date to remember.
Alex Eala vs. Iva Jovic Is One of the Most Interesting Matches
From a Filipino perspective, Eala vs. Jovic is obviously the main event.
But even for neutral tennis fans, it is an interesting matchup.
Eala and Jovic are close friends away from the court.
At the same time, they are also two young players who have risen rapidly in women’s tennis.
The official US Open event page describes them as close friends and Top 20 players who will square off during Stars of the Open.
That creates exactly the kind of friendly rivalry that works well in an exhibition.
They know each other.
They like each other.
But neither player will want to lose.
Iva Jovic Has Beaten Alex Eala Twice
There is also some competitive history between them.
Jovic has defeated Eala in both of their previous official professional meetings, winning both matches in straight sets.
That gives the American a 2-0 official head-to-head advantage.
Stars of the Open will not change that record because exhibition matches are not included in official WTA head-to-head statistics.
Still, Alex would probably enjoy finally getting one over her friend.
And there is another reason this meeting could feel different.
Eala is entering this match as a significantly more accomplished player than she was earlier in the season.
Alex Eala Is Now World No. 18
Alex Eala reached another career milestone ahead of the US Open.
In the WTA rankings released August 24, 2026, Eala climbed to a new career-high singles ranking of World No. 18.
Her ranking journey this year has been impressive.
She was ranked No. 53 at the beginning of January.
By late July, she had reached No. 28.
She moved to No. 20 in early August before climbing again to No. 18.
According to her official WTA profile, No. 18 is currently the highest singles ranking of her career.
That’s worth putting into perspective.
Alex Eala isn’t simply trying to break into the world’s elite anymore.
She is already there.
She Also Arrives as the Philippines’ First WTA Singles Champion
Perhaps the biggest development in Eala’s career ahead of the US Open came earlier this month in Washington, D.C.
Eala captured her first WTA Tour singles championship at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.
She defeated American star Jessica Pegula in the final, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, completing an impressive comeback after the match had been interrupted by rain.
The victory made Eala the first player representing the Philippines to win a WTA Tour singles title.
That achievement changed the conversation around her.
For years, Filipino fans followed Eala as the talented junior trying to make her way onto the professional tour.
Then she became a WTA player capable of beating highly ranked opponents.
Then she broke into the Top 100.
Then the Top 50.
Then the Top 30.
Now she is a WTA champion and World No. 18.
Stars of the Open comes at a point when Eala’s international profile has never been higher.
The US Open Calls Eala One of Its Biggest Attractions
Perhaps the clearest indication of Eala’s growing popularity came from the US Open itself.
In its 2026 player feature on Eala, the tournament described the Filipina as one of the biggest attractions at this year’s US Open.
That statement matters.
The US Open is filled with Grand Slam champions, former World No. 1 players and some of the biggest stars in international sports.
Yet Eala has reached the point where organizers recognize the crowds and attention she brings.
And a large part of that comes from Filipino fans.
Filipino Fans Have Become Part of the Alex Eala Experience
Anyone who regularly watches Alex Eala matches has probably noticed the Philippine flags in the stands.
You see them in Europe.
You see them in the United States.
You see them in Asia.
Sometimes there are only a few Filipino supporters. At other tournaments, large groups show up.
The US Open specifically mentioned the support of Filipino fans when discussing the 2026 Stars of the Open lineup, noting that Eala and Brazilian João Fonseca draw large crowds backed by passionate supporters from their respective countries.
That gives Stars of the Open a particularly interesting atmosphere.
Fonseca will have Brazilian fans behind him.
Eala will have Filipino supporters.
And Arthur Ashe Stadium could feel much louder than you might expect from an exhibition match.
Eala Has a Special History With the US Open
There is another reason seeing Alex Eala at Arthur Ashe Stadium feels appropriate.
New York has played an important role in her career.
She won the US Open junior title in 2022
Eala made Philippine tennis history when she captured the US Open girls’ singles championship in 2022.
She became the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles title.
At the time, it felt like an enormous breakthrough.
Looking back now, it was really just the beginning.
She made more history at the 2025 US Open
Eala returned to New York in 2025 and defeated Clara Tauson in the first round of the women’s singles competition.
The victory made her the first Filipino in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles main-draw match.
Once again, it happened at the US Open.
Now she returns in 2026 with a WTA title and Top 20 ranking next to her name.
New York has witnessed several important stages of Eala’s career, and Stars of the Open adds another chapter.
Who Else Is Playing in Stars of the Open 2026?
Although Filipino viewers will understandably focus on Alex, the overall field is strong.
These aren’t unknown players being introduced to tennis fans.
Several are already established near the top of the sport.
Amanda Anisimova vs. Marta Kostyuk
The opening match features Amanda Anisimova of the United States against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
Anisimova entered the event as a two-time Grand Slam finalist after finishing runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025.
Kostyuk, meanwhile, has continued climbing the women’s rankings and reached the semifinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier in 2026.
The US Open listed Anisimova at No. 10 and Kostyuk at No. 11 when announcing the completed Stars of the Open field earlier this month.
So the opening exhibition alone features two players among the world’s elite.
João Fonseca vs. Learner Tien
The second match should also attract plenty of attention.
Brazil’s João Fonseca is one of the most popular young players in men’s tennis.
His matches frequently attract large groups of Brazilian fans, giving him a following similar in some ways to what Eala experiences with Filipino supporters.
Fonseca reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal in 2026 and recorded major victories, including wins over Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud at Roland Garros.
Learner Tien has enjoyed his own rapid rise.
The young American has beaten some of the biggest names in men’s tennis and also reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
The US Open notes that Fonseca holds the advantage in their previous meetings.
Alexandra Eala vs. Iva Jovic
Then comes the match most Filipino viewers will be waiting for.
Eala and Jovic combine friendship, history and one of the more interesting young rivalries on the women’s tour.
Jovic made her own major breakthrough at the Australian Open earlier this year, becoming the youngest American woman to reach the quarterfinals in Melbourne since Venus Williams in 1998.
Eala, meanwhile, arrives as the Philippines’ first WTA singles champion.
It is exactly the kind of matchup Stars of the Open was created to showcase.
Arthur Fils vs. Alex Michelsen
The final match features France’s Arthur Fils against American Alex Michelsen.
Fils already owns multiple ATP titles and won in Barcelona earlier in the 2026 season before making another deep run in Madrid.
Michelsen has also established himself on the ATP Tour and has reached several tour-level finals.
Together, they complete an eight-player lineup that combines current Top 20 talent with players expected to remain prominent in professional tennis for years.
Why the One-Set Format Could Be Fun
The Stars of the Open format changes the way these players approach the match.
There is no best-of-three-set battle.
There is no long opportunity to figure out an opponent.
The first player to six games wins the exhibition.
That means the pressure starts immediately.
Imagine Eala dropping serve in the opening game.
In a normal three-set match, there is plenty of time to recover.
In a one-set exhibition, suddenly every service game becomes even more important.
The shorter format should also allow fans to see all eight players without the program lasting deep into the night.
For Filipino fans watching before or during breakfast, that isn’t a bad setup either.
Is Alex Eala vs. Iva Jovic an Official WTA Match?
No.
Stars of the Open is an exhibition.
That means:
- no WTA ranking points are awarded,
- the result does not count as an official US Open singles result,
- it does not change Eala and Jovic’s official head-to-head record,
- and neither player’s Grand Slam record is affected.
If Alex beats Jovic, it would certainly be a nice confidence boost.
But Jovic would technically remain 2-0 against Eala in official professional matches.
The serious business begins when the US Open main draw starts.
Stars of the Open Also Supports the USTA Foundation
There is also a charitable side to the event.
A portion of ticket proceeds from Stars of the Open goes to the USTA Foundation, which supports tennis and education programs for young people from under-resourced communities.
The official event page states that $11.88 from the face value of each ticket will be donated, up to a maximum combined donation of $250,000.
The foundation supports the National Junior Tennis and Learning network, which uses tennis alongside education, mentorship and academic support programs.
So while Stars of the Open is designed primarily as entertainment for fans, the event also contributes to youth development initiatives.
Where to Watch Stars of the Open 2026
In the United States, Stars of the Open will be available on ESPN+.
The US Open says the event will also be distributed through its international broadcast partners, although specific international channels are still listed as to be announced on the official Stars of the Open page.
For viewers in the Philippines, it is worth checking the latest listings from the official US Open broadcast partners before Friday morning.
Because Stars of the Open is an exhibition rather than a regular main-draw session, viewers should not automatically assume every service carrying US Open singles matches will show the exhibition.
Philippine Schedule Reminder
If you only remember one section of this guide, make it this one.
Stars of the Open 2026
Friday, August 28, 2026
6:00 a.m. Philippine Time
Alex Eala vs. Iva Jovic
Third match of the program
There is no fixed start time for Eala because her match follows Anisimova vs. Kostyuk and Fonseca vs. Tien.
What Comes After Stars of the Open for Alex Eala?
As enjoyable as the exhibition should be, it is still preparation for the much bigger challenge ahead.
The 2026 US Open men’s and women’s singles main draws begin on Sunday, August 30.
That’s when ranking points, prize money and Grand Slam history are actually on the line.
For Eala, this year’s tournament comes with expectations that would have been difficult to imagine a few seasons ago.
She isn’t arriving as an unknown qualifier.
She isn’t merely hoping to get through the first round.
She enters New York as World No. 18 and a WTA champion.
That puts her in a very different position.
Opponents know who she is.
Fans know who she is.
Tournament organizers know the audience she brings.
And Filipino supporters will be watching every match.
Why Stars of the Open Matters for Alex Eala
It would be easy to dismiss this event because it is only an exhibition.
But I think its significance becomes clearer when you look at the bigger picture.
Being invited to Stars of the Open is partly about tennis ability.
But it is also about star power.
The US Open is putting eight players inside Arthur Ashe Stadium because they believe people want to see them.
Alex Eala is one of those eight.
More importantly, she was among the four players originally announced to headline the event alongside Jovic, Fonseca and Tien before the remaining lineup was completed.
For Filipino tennis, that is a remarkable development.
We used to celebrate when a Filipino player appeared in the qualifying rounds of a major tournament.
Now we have a Filipina ranked No. 18 in the world being promoted as one of the attractions of US Open Fan Week.
That tells you how quickly things have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stars of the Open 2026
What is Stars of the Open 2026?
Stars of the Open is a special tennis exhibition held during US Open Fan Week. Eight players compete in four shortened singles matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
When is Stars of the Open 2026?
The event takes place Thursday, August 27, 2026 in New York.
For viewers in the Philippines, that is Friday, August 28.
What time does Stars of the Open start in the Philippines?
The event begins at 6:00 a.m. Philippine Time on August 28.
Is Alex Eala playing in Stars of the Open?
Yes. Alex Eala is one of eight featured players and was among the original headliners announced for the 2026 event.
Who will Alex Eala play?
Alex Eala will face American Iva Jovic.
What time is Alex Eala vs. Iva Jovic?
There is no exact individual start time.
Eala vs. Jovic is the third match of the night. The entire program begins at 6:00 a.m. Philippine Time.
Are Alex Eala and Iva Jovic friends?
Yes. The two are close friends off the court, according to the US Open.
They are also professional rivals.
What is their head-to-head record?
Jovic has won both of their previous official meetings and leads their professional head-to-head 2-0.
Will the Stars of the Open result count in their head-to-head record?
No. It is an exhibition match and will not count as an official WTA result.
What is Alex Eala’s current ranking?
Eala is World No. 18 in the WTA singles rankings as of August 24, 2026, which is a new career high.
Is Alex Eala already a WTA champion?
Yes. Eala won the 2026 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour singles championship.
Where is Stars of the Open being played?
The event takes place at Arthur Ashe Stadium inside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
How many matches are there?
There are four singles exhibition matches.
How long is each match?
Each matchup consists of one set, with the first player to six games winning.
Where can I watch Stars of the Open?
The event will be shown on ESPN+ in the United States and distributed through US Open international broadcast partners. Filipino viewers should check updated local broadcast listings before the event.
Is Stars of the Open part of the actual US Open tournament?
It is an official US Open Fan Week event, but the matches are exhibitions. They are separate from the US Open men’s and women’s singles competitions.
Final Thoughts
Stars of the Open 2026 should be an entertaining way to begin what could become another memorable US Open for Filipino tennis fans.
The complete lineup is impressive.
Amanda Anisimova faces Marta Kostyuk.
João Fonseca plays Learner Tien.
Arthur Fils meets Alex Michelsen.
But here in the Philippines, most eyes will understandably be on the third match.
Alex Eala vs. Iva Jovic.
For Eala, there are no ranking points to win and no official head-to-head record to change.
But the occasion still means something.
A Filipina is walking onto Arthur Ashe Stadium as one of the featured stars of a marquee US Open event.
She’s doing it as World No. 18.
She’s doing it as a WTA champion.
And she’s doing it with a growing army of Filipino supporters watching from New York, Manila and everywhere in between.
A few years ago, Alex Eala was the promising teenager we hoped would someday establish herself on the WTA Tour.
That future arrived faster than many expected.
Now she’s not simply trying to get into the biggest tennis events.
She’s becoming one of the players those events are promoting.
For Filipino fans planning to watch, set the alarm for Friday morning.
Stars of the Open 2026 begins at 6:00 a.m. Philippine Time on August 28, with Alex Eala and Iva Jovic scheduled for the third match.
And after the exhibition is over, attention turns to the real target:
the 2026 US Open singles championship.
