Alex Eala is through to the second round of the 2026 US Open, and her next match comes with an interesting storyline: revenge.
After producing a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over American qualifier Mary Stoiana in the opening round, Eala will next face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in the Round of 64 at Flushing Meadows in New York.
For Filipino tennis fans, this is definitely one to watch.
Oliynykova is not a stranger to Eala. In fact, she is one of the players who has already beaten the Filipina this season, coming from behind to defeat Eala in a nearly three-hour battle at the Strasbourg Open in May.
Now they meet again.
This time, however, they are playing on the hard courts of the US Open. Eala is also entering the match ranked much higher than she was during their first meeting, carrying a Grand Slam seeding and coming off one of her most comfortable victories of the tournament so far.
So when is Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova? What time is it in the Philippines? Who leads their head-to-head record? And what happens if Eala wins?
Here’s everything we know.
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Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova US Open 2026 Match Details
Tournament: 2026 US Open
Round: Women’s Singles – Second Round / Round of 64
Match: Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova
Date in New York: Thursday, September 3, 2026
Philippine date: September 3 or September 4, depending on the final start time
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York
Surface: Outdoor hard court
Alex Eala ranking: World No. 18
Alex Eala seed: No. 17
Oleksandra Oliynykova ranking: World No. 46
Head-to-head: Oliynykova leads Eala, 1-0
Result: Match has not yet been played as of September 2, 2026
The official US Open has confirmed that Eala’s next match will be against Oliynykova on Thursday, September 3. However, as of this update, the tournament’s official schedule page says the detailed order of play for September 3 has not yet been released.
What Time Is Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova in the Philippines?
This is probably the biggest question for Filipino fans planning to watch Alex Eala’s next US Open match.
As of September 2, there is no official start time yet.
The US Open normally releases the detailed order of play one day before the matches, and the official tournament schedule currently lists Thursday, September 3 as “schedule not released yet.”
The important thing to remember is that New York is 12 hours behind the Philippines during this period.
So the conversion is simple:
- 11:00 AM New York = 11:00 PM Philippine time
- 12:00 PM New York = 12:00 midnight Philippine time
- 1:00 PM New York = 1:00 AM Philippine time the following day
- 3:00 PM New York = 3:00 AM Philippine time the following day
- 7:00 PM New York = 7:00 AM Philippine time the following day
That means Filipino fans should be prepared for Eala’s match to potentially take place from late Thursday night, September 3, through Friday morning, September 4.
Once the US Open releases the exact court assignment and start time, the Philippine schedule can be determined precisely.
For now, be careful with social media posts giving an exact time. Unless it comes from the official order of play, that schedule may still change.
Latest Update: Alex Eala Reaches US Open Second Round
Eala enters the second round after an excellent performance against American qualifier Mary Stoiana.
The 21-year-old Filipina won 6-1, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
It wasn’t simply the score that was impressive.
Eala saved all six break points she faced during the match while converting four of her eight opportunities on Stoiana’s serve. She also won the final five games after briefly falling behind 2-1 in the second set.
That’s exactly the kind of opening-round performance you want from a seeded player at a Grand Slam.
Eala didn’t spend three hours on court.
She didn’t have to survive a deciding set.
And after Stoiana briefly threatened to make the second set more complicated, Eala shut the door.
The victory moved Eala into the US Open second round for the second consecutive year.
Now comes the tougher part.
Oleksandra Oliynykova Also Won in Straight Sets
Eala isn’t the only player arriving in Round 2 with confidence.
Oleksandra Oliynykova defeated American wild card Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4, in her opening match.
It was another efficient straight-set victory.
That means neither player was dragged into a long three-set battle before their second-round meeting.
According to the WTA, Oliynykova is currently ranked World No. 46. The 25-year-old Ukrainian has a 23-17 win-loss record in 2026 and has already reached the third round of a Grand Slam this season, doing so at Roland Garros.
So despite Eala being the higher-ranked and seeded player, this shouldn’t be viewed as an easy second-round match.
Oliynykova has already shown that she can beat Eala.
And she knows exactly what it takes to come back against her.
Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova Head-to-Head Record
The head-to-head record currently favors Oleksandra Oliynykova.
They have met once before on the WTA Tour.
Oliynykova leads Eala, 1-0.
Their previous meeting came in the Round of 32 of the 2026 Strasbourg Open in France on May 18.
Final score:
Oleksandra Oliynykova defeated Alex Eala, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
It was a marathon.
The match lasted two hours and 52 minutes, with Eala taking the opening set before Oliynykova fought her way back into the contest.
Eala appeared to have control after taking the first set 6-3.
But Oliynykova refused to go away.
The Ukrainian edged the second set 7-5 and then completed the comeback with a 6-3 victory in the deciding set.
It remains their only previous meeting.
Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova H2H
Matches played: 1
Oliynykova wins: 1
Eala wins: 0
Hard-court meetings: 0
Clay-court meetings: 1
Grass-court meetings: 0
Last meeting: Strasbourg Open 2026
Result: Oliynykova defeated Eala, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
That last detail matters.
Their first match happened on clay.
Their US Open showdown will be their first meeting on a hard court.
Why the Surface Could Make This Match Different
This is one reason I wouldn’t put too much weight on the 1-0 head-to-head record.
Yes, Oliynykova beat Eala.
But Strasbourg was played on clay.
The US Open is played on hard courts, and the WTA lists hard court as Eala’s preferred surface.
We’ve also seen plenty of evidence of Eala’s ability on hard courts.
Her breakthrough 2025 Miami Open run came on hard courts.
And in August 2026, she captured the biggest title of her career at the WTA 500 tournament in Washington.
Eala arrived at the US Open ranked No. 18 in the world and with a 38-20 win-loss record for the 2026 season, according to the WTA.
She has also become much more experienced at handling matches against top-level opponents.
The Eala facing Oliynykova in New York is therefore not necessarily the same player who faced her in Strasbourg several months ago.
That doesn’t guarantee a different result.
But it certainly makes this rematch more interesting.
Alex Eala Is Now the Higher-Ranked Player
There’s also a significant ranking difference between them.
Eala is officially World No. 18 and entered the US Open as the No. 17 seed. Oliynykova is World No. 46 according to the WTA’s latest player information.
That gives Eala a clear edge on paper.
But rankings don’t play the matches.
Oliynykova proved that in Strasbourg.
Interestingly, Eala’s first-round victory in New York has also pushed her higher in the unofficial live rankings. Philippine reports placed her around World No. 16 following the Stoiana win.
Live rankings can continue to change throughout a tournament depending on results from other players, so No. 16 shouldn’t be confused with Eala’s official weekly ranking.
Her official WTA ranking remains No. 18 as of this writing.
Still, her trajectory is clear.
Eala continues to climb.
This Is a Revenge Match for Alex Eala
“Revenge match” can sometimes be overused in sports, but it’s difficult to avoid the storyline here.
Eala had Oliynykova on the ropes in Strasbourg.
She won the first set.
She came close to taking the second.
Then the match slipped away.
Three months later, Eala gets another chance — this time on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
The official US Open itself has highlighted the storyline, describing Eala’s second-round appearance as a chance for revenge after the Strasbourg defeat.
There is also much more at stake now.
Strasbourg was a WTA 500 tournament.
This is the US Open.
Win this one, and Eala reaches the third round of the US Open for the first time in her career.
What Happens If Alex Eala Wins?
A victory over Oliynykova would give Eala another important career milestone.
She would advance to the US Open women’s singles third round, or Round of 32, for the first time.
That would immediately make this her best professional women’s singles performance at Flushing Meadows.
Eala made her US Open women’s main-draw debut in 2025.
She produced a memorable first-round upset over No. 14 seed Clara Tauson, winning 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, before losing to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the second round.
One year later, she’s back in exactly the same round.
The difference?
This time she is a seeded player.
That’s a pretty remarkable indication of how quickly her career has changed.
In 2025, Eala was the dangerous outsider hoping to upset established players.
In 2026, she is World No. 18, seeded No. 17 and expected to advance through matches like this.
That’s a new kind of pressure.
Her performance against Stoiana suggests she is handling it well.
Eala Is Coming Off the Best Season of Her Career
It’s also worth putting this match into the larger context of Eala’s 2026 season.
This has been the year in which she has really transitioned from rising prospect to established WTA player.
According to the WTA, Eala is 38-20 this season with one WTA singles title.
That title came in Washington, where she captured the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open.
Her season has also included a career-best Grand Slam run at Wimbledon, where she reached the Round of 16.
And now she is playing the US Open as the No. 17 seed — the highest Grand Slam seeding of her career.
In other words, Eala is no longer arriving at tournaments simply hoping to pull off a surprise.
She’s starting to become one of the players everyone else has to prepare for.
Oleksandra Oliynykova Shouldn’t Be Underestimated
At the same time, Filipino fans shouldn’t expect Oliynykova to simply roll over because Eala is ranked higher.
She’s a dangerous opponent.
Oliynykova is currently ranked No. 46 and has recorded 23 victories against 17 defeats in 2026. She has reached two WTA 250 semifinals this season and made the third round at Roland Garros.
She’s also already proven that she can stay in a match against Eala even after losing the opening set.
Their Strasbourg meeting is probably the best warning Eala could have.
Getting ahead isn’t enough.
She has to finish.
That will be one of the biggest things to watch when they step onto the court in New York.
What Alex Eala Needs to Do Against Oliynykova
One encouraging sign from the Stoiana match was Eala’s ability to protect her serve under pressure.
Stoiana had six break-point opportunities.
Eala saved every single one.
That kind of performance could be crucial against Oliynykova.
Their first meeting was a long, physical match in which momentum changed several times.
This time, Eala will want to avoid allowing Oliynykova to settle into extended rallies and gradually drag the match into the type of battle the Ukrainian won in Strasbourg.
Eala’s left-handed game can also create different angles on a hard court.
If she’s serving well and taking the ball early, she has the ability to dictate points rather than constantly defend.
And perhaps most importantly, she needs to remain composed if the match becomes close.
The score against Stoiana looked easy, but Eala still faced difficult moments.
She handled them.
Against Oliynykova, there will probably be more of them.
Eala’s First-Round Performance Was an Excellent Sign
Eala couldn’t have asked for a much cleaner start to the tournament.
Against Stoiana, she quickly opened a 5-0 lead in the first set.
After winning the opener 6-1, she faced more resistance in the second.
Stoiana moved ahead 2-1.
Then Eala completely took over.
She won five consecutive games to close the match 6-1, 6-2.
What I liked most about that performance wasn’t necessarily the winners or the scoreline.
It was the response.
When Stoiana threatened to turn the second set into a real contest, Eala didn’t panic.
She raised her level.
That mental side of the game will matter even more in Round 2.
Another Big Filipino Crowd Could Be Waiting
If Eala’s opening match is any indication, she won’t exactly feel like she’s playing thousands of kilometers away from the Philippines.
Louis Armstrong Stadium was filled with Philippine flags for her match against Stoiana.
The crowd support was particularly noticeable because Eala was facing an American player in New York.
The official US Open highlighted the huge Filipino presence surrounding Eala, while international media have increasingly focused on the passionate following she brings to tournaments around the world.
That support has become part of the Alex Eala story.
From Miami to Washington, Toronto and now New York, Filipino communities have been turning her matches into something that feels much closer to home.
It would be surprising if Thursday’s second-round match were any different.
Alex Eala vs Oliynykova Result
As of September 2, 2026:
Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova — match has not yet started.
The result section will need to be updated after their second-round US Open match.
Current tournament results:
Alex Eala defeated Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2.
Oleksandra Oliynykova defeated Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4.
Both players therefore enter Round 2 without dropping a set at this year’s tournament.
Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova: Quick Comparison
Country: Philippines
Age: 21
WTA ranking: No. 18
US Open seed: No. 17
Playing hand: Left-handed
2026 WTA record: 38-20
2026 singles titles: 1
Best Grand Slam result: Wimbledon Round of 16, 2026
US Open 2026 first round: Beat Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2
Oleksandra Oliynykova
Country: Ukraine
Age: 25
WTA ranking: No. 46
US Open seed: Unseeded
Playing hand: Right-handed
2026 WTA record: 23-17
Best Grand Slam result: Roland Garros Round of 32, 2026
US Open 2026 first round: Beat Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4
Head-to-head: Oliynykova leads 1-0.
Why This Match Matters for Philippine Tennis
At this point, we’ve seen Alex Eala accomplish so many historic things that it’s easy to lose perspective.
A few years ago, simply having a Filipino player in the US Open women’s main draw would have been enormous news.
Now?
Filipino fans are discussing whether Eala can reach the third round, how high she might climb in the rankings and who she could face later in the tournament.
That’s a dramatic shift.
Eala won the US Open girls’ singles title in 2022.
She returned as a professional and earned her first main-draw US Open victory in 2025.
Now she is back as the No. 17 seed and World No. 18.
That’s four years from junior champion to seeded women’s contender at the same Grand Slam.
And she’s still only 21.
Can Alex Eala Beat Oleksandra Oliynykova?
Absolutely.
But the first meeting between them shows why this isn’t a match Eala can take lightly.
Eala enters as the higher-ranked player and is playing on her preferred hard-court surface.
She is also coming off a much stronger season overall and looked excellent in her opening-round victory.
Those are all encouraging signs.
Oliynykova, however, owns the 1-0 head-to-head advantage.
And she didn’t simply beat Eala in a quick match.
She survived almost three hours against her after losing the opening set.
That tells us something about the Ukrainian’s resilience.
This could therefore be much closer than the rankings suggest.
If Eala serves as well as she did against Stoiana, controls the early exchanges and doesn’t allow Oliynykova to turn the match into another long physical battle, she should have a very good opportunity to advance.
But she’ll have to earn it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova?
Alex Eala will face Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round of the 2026 US Open on Thursday, September 3, in New York.
What time is Alex Eala vs Oliynykova in the Philippines?
The exact start time has not yet been announced as of September 2. The official US Open schedule says the detailed order of play for September 3 has not yet been released.
Because New York is 12 hours behind the Philippines at this time of year, a daytime match in New York would generally take place late at night or early the following morning in the Philippines.
Who won the first Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova match?
Oleksandra Oliynykova won their first meeting at the Strasbourg Open on May 18, 2026.
She defeated Eala, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, after two hours and 52 minutes.
What is the Eala vs Oliynykova head-to-head record?
Oliynykova leads their head-to-head record 1-0.
The US Open will be their second career meeting and first match against each other on a hard court.
What is Alex Eala’s ranking?
Eala is officially ranked World No. 18 by the WTA and is the No. 17 seed at the 2026 US Open.
What is Oleksandra Oliynykova’s ranking?
Oliynykova is currently World No. 46 according to the WTA’s official player profile, last updated on September 2.
What happens if Alex Eala beats Oliynykova?
Eala would advance to the US Open third round, or Round of 32, for the first time in her professional career.
She reached the second round in 2025 before losing to Cristina Bucsa.
Did Alex Eala win her first US Open 2026 match?
Yes.
Eala defeated American qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round. She saved all six break points she faced and won the final five games of the match.
Is Alex Eala still in the US Open?
Yes.
Eala is officially through to the second round of the women’s singles tournament and will next face Oliynykova.
Final Thoughts
Alex Eala’s US Open journey is about to get much more interesting.
The first round gave Filipino fans exactly what they wanted: a convincing straight-set victory and very little drama.
Round 2 is different.
Oleksandra Oliynykova has beaten Eala before.
She knows she can do it.
But Eala also knows exactly what went wrong the first time they met.
And a lot has changed since Strasbourg.
This match will be played on hard court instead of clay.
Eala is now World No. 18.
She’s the No. 17 seed at a Grand Slam.
She has a WTA 500 title behind her.
And she walks into the second round after dropping only three games in her US Open opener.
There is also something fitting about the storyline.
The last time Eala and Oliynykova met, Eala won the first set but couldn’t finish the job.
Now she gets another opportunity — on a much bigger stage.
Win, and Alex Eala reaches the US Open third round for the first time.
Lose, and another promising Grand Slam run ends in Round 2.
For Filipino fans, that means one thing:
Get ready for another late night — or very early morning.
Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova is coming.
And this time, Eala has a chance to rewrite the ending.
