Alex Eala is ready to begin what could be one of the most closely watched Grand Slam campaigns of her career.
The 21-year-old Filipina tennis star opens her women’s singles campaign at the 2026 US Open against American qualifier Mary Stoiana, and unlike a year ago when Eala arrived in New York as an emerging player trying to make another breakthrough, she now enters Flushing Meadows as the world No. 18 and the No. 17 seed.
That difference is huge.
Eala is no longer simply trying to pull off an upset against a seeded opponent. She is now the seeded player, the favorite in her first-round match, and someone with legitimate expectations of making a deep run at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.
There is also plenty of excitement surrounding this particular match. Eala and Stoiana have met before, Eala has been assigned to the massive Louis Armstrong Stadium, and ticket demand surrounding her appearance has reportedly surged.
Here is everything Filipino tennis fans need to know about Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana at the US Open 2026, including the schedule, Philippine time, current result, live updates, their previous meeting and what could happen next.
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Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana US Open 2026 Match Details
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | US Open 2026 |
| Round | Women’s Singles First Round / Round of 128 |
| Players | Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana |
| Eala ranking | World No. 18 |
| Eala seed | No. 17 |
| Stoiana ranking | World No. 122 |
| Date in the Philippines | Wednesday, September 2, 2026 |
| Expected Philippine time | Around 8:40 a.m. |
| Venue | Louis Armstrong Stadium |
| Location | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York |
| Match status | Upcoming |
The US Open’s official order of play places Stoiana vs Eala as the second match of the night session at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Adolfo Daniel Vallejo and Gael Monfils play first, beginning at 7 p.m. New York time, with Eala’s match following afterward.
For viewers in the Philippines, Eala’s match is currently projected to begin at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, September 2. However, that is an estimated time rather than a guaranteed first serve because the match before it has to finish first.
Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana Result: Latest Update
As of the latest update, the Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana match has not started.
Current status:
Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana — Upcoming
There is no official score or final result yet.
The match remains listed for Louis Armstrong Stadium following the men’s singles match between Adolfo Daniel Vallejo and Gael Monfils. Current tournament listings also continue to show Stoiana-Eala as an upcoming first-round match.
This is important because projected tennis start times can move. If Vallejo and Monfils play a long four- or five-set match, Eala could take the court considerably later than 8:40 a.m. Philippine time.
Filipino fans planning to watch would therefore be wise to start checking the Louis Armstrong Stadium action before the expected start.
What Time Is Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana in the Philippines?
The expected start is:
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Around 8:40 a.m. Philippine Standard Time
In New York, the match is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, September 1.
The official order of play lists the Louis Armstrong night session beginning at 7 p.m. with Vallejo against Monfils. Eala and Stoiana are immediately next.
So if you wake up at 8:40 a.m. and Eala isn’t playing yet, don’t panic. It probably means the previous match is still underway.
Why Alex Eala Is Playing at Louis Armstrong Stadium
This may actually be one of the more interesting stories surrounding Eala’s first round.
Louis Armstrong Stadium is not a small side court. It is the second-largest competition stadium at the US Open, behind only Arthur Ashe Stadium, and seats roughly 14,000 spectators.
Tournament director Eric Butorac said Eala’s growing popularity and strong ticket demand played a part in placing her on such a prominent court.
According to GMA News, Eala’s first-round assignment is on a bigger stadium than the courts given to several other seeded players. Butorac said organizers knew her first singles match needed to be staged on a major court, while secondary-market ticket prices for the session were already rising.
For anyone who has followed Eala for years, that development says a lot about how quickly her career has changed.
A year ago, people were talking about a Filipina trying to establish herself on the Grand Slam stage.
Now the US Open itself is anticipating a large Filipino crowd for her match.
Alex Eala Enters the US Open as the No. 17 Seed
This is also a historic US Open for Eala because she is seeded No. 17, her highest Grand Slam seeding so far.
She enters the tournament ranked No. 18 in the world.
That means Eala is expected, based purely on seeding, to reach at least the third round and potentially challenge for a place in the second week.
But Grand Slams rarely follow the script.
The first challenge is Stoiana.
And while there is a large rankings gap between the two players, this is not a match Eala can afford to treat lightly.
Who Is Mary Stoiana?
Mary Stoiana is a 23-year-old American currently ranked around world No. 122.
She came through US Open qualifying to reach her first Grand Slam singles main draw.
Stoiana defeated Harmony Tan 6-4, 6-3 in her opening qualifying match, came from a set down to defeat Katie Swan 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, and then beat Yue Yuan 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the final qualifying round.
Winning three matches just to enter the main draw tells you something immediately: Stoiana arrives match-ready.
She has already experienced pressure at Flushing Meadows and has already survived two three-set matches.
Stoiana was one of the best college tennis players in America
Stoiana also has an impressive background in NCAA tennis.
She played for Texas A&M and was named the 2024 ITA National Player of the Year. She was also SEC Player of the Year in both 2023 and 2024 and helped Texas A&M win the program’s first NCAA national championship in 2024.
Her college record was outstanding.
Texas A&M says Stoiana finished her collegiate career with a 138-20 record and went 66-7 while playing at the No. 1 position. She was also undefeated, 47-0, in dual matches at Texas A&M’s home Mitchell Tennis Center.
In other words, calling her simply a “qualifier” doesn’t tell the entire story.
Stoiana knows how to win.
Alex Eala Has Already Beaten Mary Stoiana
Here’s another detail that makes this matchup particularly interesting: Eala and Stoiana have played each other before.
Their previous meeting came in 2024 at the Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge.
Eala won that match in straight sets:
Alex Eala def. Mary Stoiana
7-5, 6-2
That previous result should give Eala confidence.
But it shouldn’t be treated as a guarantee of what will happen in New York.
Both players have developed considerably since 2024. Stoiana has transitioned further into professional tennis, while Eala has climbed from outside the elite level to become a Top 20 player and WTA champion.
Their US Open meeting comes with much higher stakes.
Why Eala Is the Favorite
On paper, most indicators favor Eala.
She is ranked No. 18 compared with Stoiana at No. 122. She is the tournament’s 17th seed. She has considerably more experience playing WTA Tour events and Grand Slam main draws.
Current matchup projections also strongly favor Eala. Tennis.com’s pre-match model listed Eala as the projected winner with a 77 percent probability.
But the rankings aren’t the only reason.
Eala’s 2026 season has changed how the tennis world sees her.
Alex Eala’s 2026 Season Has Been Remarkable
Eala enters the US Open after the strongest stretch of her professional career.
The biggest breakthrough came in Washington, where she won her first WTA Tour title at the Mubadala DC Open.
Her run included victories over several major names before she defeated world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the final, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
She also enjoyed a strong grass season.
At Wimbledon, Eala reached the fourth round — her deepest Grand Slam run so far — and defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek along the way.
Her 2026 season also includes deep runs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Berlin and other major tournaments.
Those performances have pushed her into the world’s Top 20 and completely changed expectations whenever she enters a tournament.
But Stoiana Could Be Dangerous
There is a very common trap in tennis: assuming a Top 20 player will easily beat someone ranked outside the Top 100.
Grand Slam qualifying makes that assumption particularly dangerous.
Stoiana has already played three competitive matches on the US Open courts while Eala is coming into her singles opener after waiting several days.
The American will also have the advantage of playing at home.
And because Stoiana is the lower-ranked player, she can approach the match knowing that most of the pressure is on Eala.
That’s why the opening few games could be important.
If Eala settles quickly, takes control of the baseline rallies and prevents Stoiana from building confidence, the rankings difference may eventually show.
If Stoiana gets an early break and the American crowd becomes involved, however, the match could become much more complicated.
What Eala Needs to Do Against Stoiana
One of Eala’s biggest weapons is the combination of her left-handed game, forehand and ability to change direction from the baseline.
Her movement has also improved significantly.
But there are a few areas worth watching.
Start quickly
Eala has produced several great comebacks in her career, but she doesn’t want to give a confident qualifier an early advantage.
A strong first few service games could settle the nerves.
Protect the second serve
Against aggressive returners, Eala can sometimes find herself immediately defending after a weaker second serve.
Stoiana is likely to attack whenever she gets that opportunity.
Use the left-handed patterns
Being a left-handed player gives Eala natural angles that many opponents encounter less frequently.
Using the wide serve and then attacking the open court could be particularly effective.
Stay patient
Stoiana has already shown in qualifying that she can survive long matches.
Eala shouldn’t expect every rally to end quickly. If she needs to win in three sets, that shouldn’t be considered a problem.
Eala’s US Open History
Flushing Meadows already holds a special place in Eala’s career.
In 2022, she won the US Open girls’ singles championship, becoming the first Filipino to capture a junior Grand Slam singles title.
Then came another breakthrough in 2025.
Eala defeated Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(11) in the first round, becoming the first Filipino player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam main-draw singles match.
She eventually lost to Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-3 in the second round.
A year later, simply reaching the second round isn’t the goal anymore.
Eala is now seeded and capable of going much further.
Who Will Alex Eala Face If She Beats Mary Stoiana?
This is where the draw becomes particularly interesting.
If Eala defeats Stoiana, she advances to the second round and will face the winner of:
Oleksandra Oliynykova vs Reese Brantmeier
Neither player is seeded, so Eala would again be expected to enter the match as the favorite if she reaches that stage.
That gives her a potentially manageable route through the opening rounds.
Could Alex Eala Face Coco Gauff?
Yes — but not immediately.
Eala and Coco Gauff are in a section of the draw that could eventually bring them together in the fourth round.
For that matchup to happen, both players would need to win their first three matches.
So the potential route for Eala starts with:
First Round: Mary Stoiana
Second Round: Oleksandra Oliynykova or Reese Brantmeier
Third Round: Opponent to be determined from their section
Fourth Round: Potentially Coco Gauff
That possible Eala-Gauff matchup would obviously be enormous, especially considering Eala’s growing international profile.
But there is a lot of tennis to play before then.
Where to Watch Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana
For viewers in the United States, ESPN has extensive US Open coverage across its platforms, with the tournament available through ESPN’s television and streaming ecosystem.
For viewers in the Philippines, local listings indicate that US Open coverage is available through SPOTV and the SPOTV Now streaming service. Availability can depend on your TV or streaming subscription, so it is worth checking the service shortly before the match begins.
Fans can also follow scores through the official US Open website and established tennis score services.
Eala Has Already Played Mixed Doubles at the US Open
Although this is Eala’s first singles match of the tournament, she has already appeared on court at the 2026 US Open.
She partnered Canadian star Félix Auger-Aliassime in mixed doubles.
Their campaign ended in the first round against married tennis stars Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils, who defeated the Eala-Auger-Aliassime pairing 4-1, 4-1.
Eala also participated in the Stars of the Open exhibition and faced American Iva Jovic, losing 6-3.
So while Stoiana has the advantage of three qualifying matches, Eala hasn’t exactly been sitting around doing nothing in New York.
Why This US Open Feels Different for Alex Eala
There is something noticeably different about Eala’s position heading into this tournament.
In earlier Grand Slams, a big story was simply whether a Filipina could reach the main draw, win a match or upset a highly ranked opponent.
Those achievements mattered because Filipino tennis had never experienced anything quite like this.
Now the questions are changing.
Can Eala reach the third round?
Can she make another Grand Slam second week?
Can she challenge one of the world’s elite players?
Can she eventually contend for a major title?
Those are considerably bigger expectations.
And they exist because of what Eala has already accomplished.
The US Open itself described her rise over the past year as a move from the Top 100 into the Top 20 and from breakout player into an established name.
A Huge Filipino Crowd Is Expected
Eala’s popularity has become one of the stories surrounding the tournament.
GMA reported that resale ticket prices for her Louis Armstrong Stadium session rose sharply as fans tried to secure seats. Tournament organizers have also openly discussed expectations of strong Filipino support inside the stadium.
That could make Wednesday morning in the Philippines feel almost like a home match despite Eala being thousands of kilometers away in New York.
We’ve already seen this phenomenon in tournaments with large Filipino communities.
When Eala plays in North America, Filipino flags appear everywhere.
At Louis Armstrong Stadium, that support could be louder than ever.
Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana Live Updates
This section reflects the latest available match status.
Pre-match update
Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana is scheduled as the second match of the Louis Armstrong Stadium night session.
Current status
Upcoming — match has not started.
Expected start
Around 8:40 a.m. Philippine time on Wednesday, September 2.
Match before Eala
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo vs Gael Monfils.
Result
No result yet.
The final score should only be added once the match has officially concluded.
What Happens If Alex Eala Wins?
A victory would send Eala into the US Open second round for the second consecutive year.
She would play either Oleksandra Oliynykova or Reese Brantmeier.
A win would also put her one victory away from setting a new personal best at the US Open.
Eala reached Round 2 last year, so reaching the third round this time would mark her deepest senior singles run at Flushing Meadows.
More importantly, getting through the opening match would allow Eala to settle into the tournament.
Grand Slam first rounds can be awkward, particularly for seeded players facing qualifiers with very little pressure.
Survive it, and the tournament can suddenly start to open up.
What Happens If Alex Eala Loses?
If Stoiana pulls off the upset, Eala’s women’s singles campaign would end in the first round.
It would be a disappointing result given her ranking and seeding, but it wouldn’t erase what has already been an outstanding 2026 season.
Grand Slam draws can be unforgiving, and Stoiana’s ranking probably understates how dangerous she can be given her elite collegiate background and the form required to survive three rounds of US Open qualifying.
Still, Eala enters as the favorite for a reason.
Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana Prediction
Based on rankings, tour experience, recent form and their previous meeting, Eala should have the advantage.
She is ranked more than 100 places higher, has beaten Stoiana before and has spent much of this season facing—and beating—some of the best players in women’s tennis.
Stoiana’s qualifying form means I wouldn’t expect this to be automatic, though.
She is already comfortable on the US Open courts and has nothing to lose.
If Eala handles the early pressure and maintains her level from the baseline, she should have enough to advance.
Prediction: Alex Eala to win, most likely in two competitive sets or a three-set match if Stoiana starts strongly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana?
The match is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, 2026 in Philippine time.
What time is Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana in the Philippines?
The projected start is around 8:40 a.m. Philippine time, but it may be later because Eala plays after the Vallejo-Monfils men’s match.
Where will Alex Eala play?
The match will be held at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
What round is Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana?
It is the first round, also known as the Round of 128, of the women’s singles competition.
What is Alex Eala’s ranking?
Eala enters the US Open ranked world No. 18 and is seeded No. 17.
What is Mary Stoiana’s ranking?
Stoiana enters the match around world No. 122.
Have Alex Eala and Mary Stoiana played before?
Yes. Eala defeated Stoiana 7-5, 6-2 at an ITF tournament in 2024.
Who will Eala play if she wins?
She will face the winner of Oleksandra Oliynykova vs Reese Brantmeier in the second round.
Could Eala play Coco Gauff?
Yes. Eala could potentially meet fourth-seeded Coco Gauff in the fourth round if both players win their first three matches.
Final Thoughts
For Filipino tennis fans, Alex Eala’s 2026 US Open campaign begins with a very different feeling.
We already know she belongs at this level.
We’ve seen her beat Grand Slam champions. We’ve watched her enter the world’s Top 20. We’ve seen her win a WTA title.
Now comes another challenge: learning how to handle a Grand Slam when she is the player expected to win.
Mary Stoiana is exactly the type of opponent who can make that difficult. She is talented, confident after qualifying and will have an American crowd behind her.
But Eala has earned the right to enter this match as the favorite.
And when she walks onto Louis Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday morning Philippine time, she won’t just be trying to win another first-round match.
She’ll be beginning a US Open campaign in which, for perhaps the first time, Filipinos can realistically ask a much bigger question:
How far can Alex Eala go?
