Alex Eala is moving on at the 2026 US Open — and she did it in convincing fashion.
The Filipina tennis star opened her women’s singles campaign with an impressive 6-1, 6-2 victory over American qualifier Mary Stoiana at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York on Tuesday night, September 1, or Wednesday morning, September 2, in the Philippines.
For Filipino tennis fans who stayed up or woke up early to follow the match, this was the kind of performance they were hoping to see from Eala.
She didn’t simply survive the first round. She controlled it.
Eala absorbed some early pressure from Stoiana, settled into her game and then took command. By the end, the 21-year-old had won the final five games of the match and booked her place in the second round of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.
It also means that, for the second straight year, Alex Eala has reached at least the second round of the US Open.
And this time, the circumstances feel very different.
Eala arrived in New York as the No. 17 seed and World No. 18 — no longer simply a promising young player hoping to produce an upset, but a player the rest of the draw has to take seriously.
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Alex Eala vs Mary Stoiana result
Here is the final score from their US Open 2026 first-round match:
Alex Eala defeated Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2.
The score makes the match look comfortable, and for long stretches it was.
But Eala still had to handle several moments when Stoiana threatened to change the direction of the match.
That may actually be one of the most encouraging parts of the victory.
Eala faced early pressure — then took over
Eala’s opening service game wasn’t completely smooth.
Stoiana immediately created two break-point opportunities, giving the American a possible chance to strike early in front of the New York crowd.
Eala saved both.
Instead of allowing that difficult opening game to unsettle her, she went in the opposite direction.
She quickly raced to a 5-0 advantage in the first set.
By that point, Eala had found her rhythm from the baseline and was doing an excellent job protecting her serve. According to the official US Open match report, she won 84 percent of her first-service points in the opening set.
Stoiana finally got on the scoreboard, but it only delayed the inevitable.
Eala took the first set, 6-1.
It was a dominant opening statement.
Mary Stoiana fought back in the second set
The second set wasn’t quite as straightforward.
Stoiana again put pressure on Eala early and managed to make the match more uncomfortable.
The American had already shown plenty of resilience just to reach this stage of the tournament. She came through US Open qualifying after defeating Harmony Tan, Katie Swan and Yuan Yue, earning a place in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time. She entered the tournament at a career-high ranking of No. 122.
So it wasn’t surprising to see her continue fighting.
Stoiana briefly moved ahead 2-1 in the second set and appeared to have given herself an opening.
Eala’s response was emphatic.
She didn’t lose another game.
From 1-2 down, Eala reeled off five consecutive games to close the match, 6-1, 6-2.
That finishing stretch was probably the clearest example of the difference between the two players on the night.
Whenever Stoiana appeared close to creating momentum, Eala found an answer.
Alex Eala saved all six break points she faced
One statistic in particular tells the story of Eala’s composure.
Stoiana created six break-point opportunities during the match.
She converted none of them.
Eala saved all six.
Meanwhile, Eala generated eight break-point opportunities against Stoiana and converted four of them.
That is a major reason why a match that had several potentially tricky moments eventually turned into such a comfortable-looking scoreline.
Tennis matches can change very quickly when a player gives away an early service game or fails to capitalize on an opponent under pressure.
Eala simply didn’t allow that to happen.
She protected her serve whenever Stoiana threatened, then punished the American when opportunities appeared on the other side of the net.
For a player carrying significantly greater expectations than she did at last year’s US Open, that mental composure was just as important as the 6-1, 6-2 score.
A different Alex Eala is playing at the US Open this year
This isn’t Eala’s first experience playing in the US Open women’s main draw.
But her position in women’s tennis has changed dramatically.
In 2025, Eala entered the tournament as a much lower-ranked player and produced one of the biggest results of her career at the time by upsetting No. 14 seed Clara Tauson in the first round.
Her run ended against Cristina Bucsa in the second round.
Fast forward one year, and Eala returned to Flushing Meadows as the No. 17 seed.
That’s a completely different situation psychologically.
Last year, she could play as the underdog.
This year, there are matches in which she is expected to win.
That creates a different type of pressure.
Against Stoiana, Eala handled it exceptionally well.
She was facing an American player at the US Open, but she played with the confidence of someone comfortable with the expectations surrounding her.
Filipino fans turned New York into a home crowd for Eala
One of the best parts of Eala’s US Open opener was the atmosphere inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Despite playing an American opponent in New York, Eala had enormous support from Filipino fans in the stands.
Philippine flags were easy to spot around the stadium, while cheers followed Eala throughout the match.
It’s becoming a familiar scene wherever she plays.
Eala has drawn large Filipino crowds throughout her North American tournaments, and the community again made its presence felt at the US Open.
The official US Open report described the atmosphere inside Louis Armstrong Stadium as electric and noted the traveling group of predominantly Filipino supporters who have followed Eala during her rise.
After the match, Eala thanked the community in New York as well as other tennis fans who have supported her journey and contributed to the growing interest in women’s tennis.
That’s another part of Eala’s rise that has become impossible to ignore.
She’s not only winning matches.
She’s drawing crowds.
Why this US Open win is important for Alex Eala
On paper, this is a first-round victory.
But within the bigger picture of Eala’s career, there is more to it.
First, Eala avoided an early upset.
That might sound simple, but Grand Slam first rounds can be dangerous, particularly against qualifiers who have already played several matches at the venue and have very little to lose.
Stoiana had won three qualifying matches before facing Eala.
Eala made sure the American’s run ended quickly.
Second, Eala is now into the US Open second round for a second consecutive season.
Consistency at Grand Slam tournaments is becoming increasingly important as she establishes herself among the world’s top players.
And third, the victory keeps alive the possibility of another career-best Grand Slam performance.
Eala reached the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier in 2026, her best singles result at a major so far.
Could she produce another deep run in New York?
The next match should tell us much more.
Who will Alex Eala face next?
Alex Eala’s next opponent at the 2026 US Open is Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova.
Oliynykova defeated American Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round to set up the matchup with Eala.
This isn’t a completely unfamiliar opponent for the Filipina.
In fact, Eala has unfinished business with Oliynykova.
They faced each other earlier this year at the Strasbourg Open, where Eala won the opening set before Oliynykova came back to win, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
That makes their US Open meeting especially interesting.
Eala now gets an opportunity to avenge that defeat — except this time, the stakes are significantly higher.
The winner advances to the US Open third round.
For Eala, a victory would also give her a new career-best result at the tournament.
When is Alex Eala’s next US Open match?
The official US Open says Eala will face Oleksandra Oliynykova on Thursday, September 3, in New York.
As of September 2, however, the tournament’s official schedule page says the detailed order of play for Thursday has not yet been released. That means the exact court and start time should be treated as to be announced until the US Open publishes its final schedule.
For fans in the Philippines, the time difference means the match could take place Thursday night or sometime Friday, September 4, Philippine time, depending on Eala’s court assignment and whether she is placed in the day or evening session.
It is worth checking the official schedule again once the order of play is confirmed.
Eala arrives in New York after a breakthrough season
The confidence we’re seeing from Eala at the US Open didn’t appear overnight.
Her 2026 season has been filled with milestones.
The biggest came in Washington, where she captured her first WTA Tour singles title by defeating top seed Jessica Pegula in the final.
The victory made Eala the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour singles title.
She followed that championship by continuing to win matches during the North American hard-court season, including victories in Toronto and Cincinnati.
She also produced her career-best Grand Slam run at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round.
All of those experiences matter when a player arrives at a tournament as demanding as the US Open.
Eala is no longer entering matches wondering whether she can compete against established tour players.
She has already proved that she can.
The question now is how far she can take it.
The US Open remains a special tournament for Eala
There’s also a personal connection between Alex Eala and New York.
Long before she became a seeded women’s singles player, Eala made history at this tournament.
In 2022, she won the US Open girls’ singles championship.
That victory made her the first Filipino to capture a junior Grand Slam singles title and introduced her to a much wider tennis audience.
Four years later, she is back at Flushing Meadows as one of the top seeds in the women’s draw.
That progression makes every Eala match at the US Open feel like another chapter in a story that started on the same courts.
What stood out most from Alex Eala’s win?
The 6-1, 6-2 score will naturally grab the headlines.
But the bigger takeaway was Eala’s control under pressure.
She didn’t need to play a flawless match from the first ball.
Stoiana created opportunities.
There were break points.
There were moments early in the second set when the American began making Eala uncomfortable.
Eala simply responded every time.
Six break points faced.
Six break points saved.
Four breaks of serve converted.
Five straight games to finish the match.
That’s the type of performance you want to see from a seeded player in the first round of a Grand Slam.
There was no unnecessary drama and no long three-set battle that could have drained valuable energy.
Eala got the job done in straight sets and moved on.
Alex Eala continues to make Philippine tennis history
The remarkable thing about Eala’s career right now is that achievements that once would have seemed historic are beginning to feel almost normal.
A Filipina ranked among the world’s elite.
A Filipina seeded at a Grand Slam.
A Filipina walking into Louis Armstrong Stadium with thousands of fans expecting her to win.
A Filipina advancing through another US Open main draw.
Those scenes simply didn’t exist in Philippine tennis before Alex Eala.
And yet, judging by her performance against Mary Stoiana, Eala isn’t interested in stopping at the second round.
Oleksandra Oliynykova is next.
That match will undoubtedly present a tougher challenge, particularly because Oliynykova has already beaten Eala this season.
But Eala enters the matchup with momentum, confidence and another packed group of Filipino supporters likely waiting for her in New York.
For now, though, Filipino fans can enjoy this one.
Alex Eala is officially through to the second round of the 2026 US Open.
And she got there in style.
Alex Eala US Open 2026: Quick Facts
- First round result: Alex Eala defeated Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2
- Tournament: 2026 US Open
- Round: Women’s Singles First Round
- Venue: Louis Armstrong Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York
- Eala’s seed: No. 17
- Eala’s ranking entering the tournament: World No. 18
- Break points saved: 6 of 6
- Break points converted: 4 of 8
- Next opponent: Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine
- Next round: Round of 64 / Second Round
- Next match date: Thursday, September 3 in New York
- Exact start time: To be announced
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Alex Eala win today?
Yes. Alex Eala defeated American qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round of the 2026 US Open. The match was played on September 1 in New York and finished on the morning of September 2 in Philippine time.
Is Alex Eala still in the US Open 2026?
Yes. Eala has advanced to the second round of the women’s singles tournament.
Who is Alex Eala’s next opponent?
Eala will face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, who defeated Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4, in her first-round match.
Has Alex Eala played Oleksandra Oliynykova before?
Yes. Oliynykova defeated Eala at the Strasbourg Open earlier in 2026, coming back to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Their US Open meeting will be their second recorded tour-level matchup.
Has Alex Eala reached the US Open third round before?
No. Eala reached the second round in her 2025 US Open women’s singles debut before losing to Cristina Bucsa. A victory over Oliynykova would therefore give Eala her best US Open women’s singles result.
What is Alex Eala’s best Grand Slam result?
Eala’s best Grand Slam women’s singles performance so far is reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2026.
Did Alex Eala win the junior US Open?
Yes. Eala won the US Open girls’ singles championship in 2022, years before emerging as a seeded player in the women’s tournament.
Final Thoughts
Alex Eala couldn’t have asked for a much better beginning to her 2026 US Open singles campaign.
A straight-set victory. A 6-1, 6-2 score. All six break points saved. Five consecutive games to close it out.
More importantly, she looked like a player who expected to be there.
That’s perhaps the biggest difference between the Alex Eala who arrived at Flushing Meadows a year ago and the one competing in New York today.
She isn’t merely trying to create an upset anymore.
She’s trying to make a deep Grand Slam run.
Round one is done.
Next comes Oleksandra Oliynykova — and an opportunity for Eala to reach the US Open third round for the first time in her career.
