Alex Eala and Félix Auger-Aliassime now know exactly who stands between them and a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship.
And this is not an ordinary pairing.
Waiting for them in the opening round are Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils — two accomplished tennis stars, a husband-and-wife team, and one of the most interesting partnerships in the entire mixed doubles draw.
The US Open officially confirmed that Eala and Auger-Aliassime will face Svitolina and Monfils in the first round, with the winner advancing to meet either Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic or Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals.
So before Alex and Félix even start dreaming about that potential blockbuster next round, they have a difficult first assignment.
Who exactly are Svitolina and Monfils? How good are they? What makes this husband-and-wife pairing dangerous? And what does Alex Eala already know about one of them?
Here’s a closer look.
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Alex Eala and Félix Auger-Aliassime vs. Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils
The matchup is officially set:
Alex Eala 🇵🇭 / Félix Auger-Aliassime 🇨🇦
vs.
Elina Svitolina 🇺🇦 / Gaël Monfils 🇫🇷
The match is part of the first round of the 16-team US Open Mixed Doubles Championship.
Main-draw action begins on August 25, with the first round and quarterfinals both scheduled for the same day. The semifinals and championship match follow on August 26.
That schedule alone tells you something important.
There is very little time to recover or adjust.
If Eala and Auger-Aliassime beat Svitolina and Monfils, they could potentially be back on court later the same day for a quarterfinal.
So this opening match matters immediately.
Who Is Elina Svitolina?
Elina Svitolina is one of the most accomplished Ukrainian tennis players in history.
She is currently ranked around World No. 9 and has previously climbed as high as World No. 3 in the WTA rankings. The WTA lists her with 20 career singles titles, including two championships already in 2026.
At 31, Svitolina brings something incredibly valuable to mixed doubles:
Experience.
She has spent years playing deep into major tournaments, competing against the very best players in women’s tennis and dealing with the pressure of big matches.
She also isn’t simply a singles player trying doubles for fun.
Svitolina has won WTA doubles titles earlier in her career, which means she understands the different positioning and instincts required when another player shares your side of the court.
That could become important against a brand-new team like Eala and Auger-Aliassime.
Svitolina Is Having a Strong 2026 Season
Svitolina’s current ranking is not based on past reputation alone.
She has enjoyed another impressive season.
The WTA currently lists her with a 36-11 win-loss record in 2026, along with titles in Auckland and Rome.
That Rome title is particularly notable.
Winning a major clay-court tournament at this stage of her career shows that she remains capable of defeating elite opposition and handling high-pressure situations.
So Alex isn’t facing someone whose best tennis happened years ago.
Svitolina remains very relevant at the top of the women’s game right now.
Alex Eala Has Already Beaten Svitolina This Year
Here’s where the matchup becomes much more interesting for Filipino fans.
Alex Eala already knows exactly what it’s like to face Svitolina.
And she knows what it’s like to beat her.
During Eala’s incredible championship run at the 2026 Washington Open, Alex defeated Svitolina on the way to her first WTA title.
The WTA later noted that Eala’s Washington title run included victories over Zheng Qinwen, Leylah Fernandez, Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula — one of the toughest routes to a championship seen on the tour in recent memory.
That previous victory doesn’t guarantee anything in New York.
Mixed doubles is a completely different game.
But psychologically, it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Eala will step onto the court knowing that she has already found a way to beat Svitolina in singles.
What Makes Svitolina Difficult to Play?
Svitolina has never depended entirely on overwhelming power.
Her biggest strengths are consistency, movement, defense and her ability to make opponents play one extra shot.
That’s important in a fast mixed doubles match.
While other players may try to end points immediately, Svitolina is comfortable absorbing pace and redirecting the ball.
She can turn defense into offense.
She can make opponents impatient.
And she has enough experience to recognize patterns quickly.
Against Eala, that could create some interesting rallies.
Alex often likes to take the ball early and use her left-handed angles.
Svitolina could respond by extending points and forcing Alex to hit repeatedly into uncomfortable positions.
Who Is Gaël Monfils?
Then we get to one of the most entertaining players tennis has ever produced.
Gaël Monfils has been a fixture on the ATP Tour for more than two decades.
The French star reached a career-high ranking of World No. 6 and has won 13 ATP Tour singles titles.
But rankings and trophies only tell part of the story.
Monfils has always been different.
He’s one of those players who can produce shots that make an entire stadium react before the point is even finished.
Sliding.
Jumping forehands.
Impossible defensive retrievals.
Sudden attacks.
Ridiculous athleticism.
If you’ve watched tennis for any length of time, chances are you’ve seen at least one Monfils highlight without even realizing it was him.
This US Open Is Particularly Special for Monfils
There’s an emotional element to this mixed doubles appearance too.
Monfils has already announced that 2026 will be his final season as a professional tennis player.
The ATP reported that he plans to retire at the end of the year after a career that began professionally in 2004.
That means this US Open carries additional meaning.
And playing mixed doubles alongside his wife makes it even more personal.
The US Open specifically promoted Svitolina and Monfils as a husband-and-wife pairing making their first official doubles tournament together.
Think about that.
After years of watching and supporting each other from the sidelines, they’re finally playing an official tournament on the same side of the net.
And they’re doing it during Monfils’ farewell season.
That could make them especially motivated.
Svitolina and Monfils Are One of Tennis’ Most Famous Couples
Svitolina and Monfils married in July 2021 and have a daughter, Skai, who was born in October 2022.
Fans have followed their relationship for years because both players were already major stars when they became a couple.
But this mixed doubles tournament creates something different.
Instead of sitting in each other’s player boxes, they’re now making decisions together on court.
Who’s taking the middle ball?
Who’s covering the net?
Who’s serving first?
How do they communicate after losing a point?
That naturally gives the matchup a fun storyline.
Alex and Félix are basically a newly formed partnership.
Svitolina and Monfils are married.
On paper, you’d think the married couple would have the chemistry advantage.
But tennis chemistry isn’t always the same thing as relationship chemistry.
That’s what makes it interesting.
Their First Official Doubles Tournament Together
This is one detail that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Despite their long relationship, the US Open says this is Svitolina and Monfils’ first official doubles tournament together.
So while they obviously know each other extremely well personally, they’re also learning how to operate as an actual competitive team.
That’s important.
Mixed doubles requires communication that singles players don’t normally need.
You have to know when your partner is moving across the net.
You have to cover open spaces.
You have to decide who handles balls through the middle.
And sometimes you need to make those decisions in a fraction of a second.
So the idea that Svitolina and Monfils automatically have perfect tennis chemistry because they’re married may be overstating things.
They’ll be learning too.
Why Svitolina and Monfils Could Be Dangerous
Still, there are obvious reasons this pairing is dangerous.
Svitolina brings elite consistency and returning ability.
Monfils brings athleticism, reach and unpredictability.
Together, they can make opponents uncomfortable in completely different ways.
Imagine Félix hitting a huge serve.
Svitolina is capable of getting more returns back than many players.
Then imagine Alex trying to pass Monfils at the net.
His reach and reflexes could turn shots that normally look like winners into another ball coming back.
That’s the challenge.
You can’t assume a point is over against either of them.
Monfils at the Net Could Be a Problem
Monfils’ athleticism could be particularly useful in mixed doubles.
At 39, he obviously isn’t moving exactly the way he did in his twenties.
But his instincts, reach and anticipation remain valuable.
At the net, he doesn’t need to run down every ball from the baseline.
He can use his wingspan to cut off passing shots.
He can poach.
He can make opponents think twice about hitting through the middle.
That could put pressure on Eala’s returns.
If Alex sees Monfils moving early, she may have to find sharper angles rather than simply driving the ball crosscourt.
Félix Could Also Put Pressure on Svitolina
Of course, the matchup works both ways.
Félix Auger-Aliassime has a huge serve.
And in mixed doubles, Svitolina could find herself returning some serves with significantly more pace than she normally sees on the WTA Tour.
That’s one of the most fascinating parts of mixed doubles.
The women’s players sometimes have to return serves from elite ATP players.
The men’s players sometimes have to deal with different angles and timing from WTA opponents.
It creates unusual patterns.
And Félix’s serve could be one of Eala’s biggest weapons in this matchup.
Alex’s Left-Handed Game Could Create Problems
Alex also brings something different.
She’s left-handed.
That immediately changes serving and return angles.
Svitolina and Monfils will have to adjust between Eala’s left-handed patterns and Félix’s right-handed power from one game to the next.
That isn’t easy.
Alex has also become increasingly comfortable taking the ball early.
She doesn’t necessarily need to overpower Svitolina.
If she can redirect pace quickly and keep Monfils from dominating at the net, she can make things uncomfortable.
The Shortened Format Makes This Match Very Unpredictable
Perhaps the biggest wildcard is the format.
The US Open mixed doubles tournament is not using traditional full-length Grand Slam matches.
From qualifying through the semifinals, sets are played to four games, with no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak replacing a traditional third set.
That changes everything.
Normally, if you lose serve early in a set, you might have several games to recover.
Here?
One break could almost decide the set.
A single deciding deuce point could change the match.
One hot stretch from Monfils.
One huge returning game from Eala.
One serving run from Félix.
One defensive masterclass from Svitolina.
Any of those could decide the whole thing in minutes.
Experience vs. Momentum
That’s probably the easiest way to describe this matchup.
Svitolina and Monfils have experience.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime have momentum and power.
Svitolina has been a Top 10-level player for years.
Monfils has spent two decades competing in major stadiums.
But Eala is having the season of her life.
She recently became the first Filipina to reach the WTA Top 20 after winning Washington.
And Félix arrives in New York as one of the world’s highest-ranked men’s players.
Neither side should feel intimidated.
What Alex Already Knows About Svitolina Could Matter
There’s also something practical about Eala having faced Svitolina recently.
Alex has firsthand knowledge of:
Svitolina’s return position.
Her preferred rally patterns.
How she moves under pressure.
How she defends her backhand side.
How she reacts when opponents take time away from her.
That information could help Eala and Félix plan.
Obviously, Monfils changes the equation dramatically.
But previous familiarity is still better than going into the match completely blind.
Svitolina Has Something to Prove Too
Don’t forget the other side.
Svitolina remembers Washington too.
Professional athletes notice these things.
She’ll know that Eala defeated her during Alex’s title run.
That could provide a little extra motivation.
Again, this isn’t a singles rematch.
But competitive players don’t suddenly forget previous losses.
There’s a decent chance both women will have that Washington match somewhere in the back of their minds.
The Crowd Could Become Another Factor
Monfils is enormously popular.
He has been one of tennis’ biggest crowd favorites for years.
And during his final US Open, New York fans could be particularly supportive.
Svitolina also commands tremendous respect.
But Alex brings something of her own.
Filipino fans have been showing up everywhere during her 2026 rise.
Washington was a perfect example.
The US Open could produce an even bigger Filipino turnout because of the large Filipino-American community in the New York area.
So we could end up with a genuinely divided atmosphere.
One section cheering for Monfils’ farewell run.
Another covered in Philippine flags.
That could be fun.
And Look Who Could Be Waiting Next
If Eala and Auger-Aliassime win, their quarterfinal becomes even more interesting.
The official draw has them facing the winner of:
Aryna Sabalenka / Novak Djokovic
vs.
Leylah Fernandez / Frances Tiafoe
in the next round.
So yes, Alex could potentially face Djokovic and Sabalenka.
Or she could get another match involving Leylah Fernandez, whom she also defeated during her Washington championship run.
But none of that matters unless Alex and Félix get past Svitolina and Monfils first.
And that will not be easy.
Why This Is a Great First-Round Match for Alex
From a purely competitive standpoint, Eala could probably have hoped for an easier opening draw.
But from an experience standpoint?
This is almost perfect.
She’s facing two famous, accomplished players.
She’s playing alongside a Top ATP star.
The crowd should be involved.
The stakes are real.
And the match is being played as part of one of the most heavily promoted events of US Open Fan Week.
These are exactly the kinds of experiences that can help a young player become more comfortable on the biggest stages.
Who Has the Advantage?
It’s difficult to give one team a clear edge.
Svitolina and Monfils have more life chemistry.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime probably have the stronger combined current singles ranking.
Svitolina is extremely reliable.
Félix has potentially the biggest serve on the court.
Monfils brings unpredictability.
Alex brings left-handed angles and confidence.
The format is short enough that almost anything can happen.
That’s why this feels closer to a 50-50 matchup than the names alone might suggest.
What Eala and Auger-Aliassime Need to Do
For Alex and Félix, the first priority should probably be protecting serve.
With sets only going to four games, giving away an early break can be extremely costly.
Félix’s service games should theoretically be a major advantage.
Alex’s service games may require more tactical positioning, with Félix looking to become active at the net.
On return, Eala could be particularly important against Svitolina.
And when Monfils serves, simply putting returns in play may be enough to create opportunities.
The biggest challenge?
Don’t allow the match to become chaotic on Monfils’ terms.
Because if there’s one player you probably don’t want turning a tennis match into improvisational theater, it’s Gaël Monfils.
Svitolina and Monfils at a Glance
Elina Svitolina 🇺🇦
Age: 31
Country: Ukraine
Plays: Right-handed
Current singles ranking: Around World No. 9
Career-high ranking: No. 3
Career singles titles: 20
2026 singles titles: Auckland and Rome
2026 record: 36-11
Major strengths: Defense, consistency, movement, return game and experience
Gaël Monfils 🇫🇷
Age: 39
Country: France
Career-high ranking: No. 6
ATP singles titles: 13
Professional debut: 2004
2026 significance: Final professional season
Major strengths: Athleticism, defense, creativity, reach and unpredictability
Relationship: Married since 2021
Daughter: Skai
2026 US Open significance: Their first official doubles tournament together.
Alex Eala’s Connection to Svitolina
There’s one statistic Filipino fans will probably enjoy remembering before the match.
Alex Eala has already defeated Svitolina in 2026.
That happened during her historic Washington championship run, which eventually lifted Eala to World No. 20 and made her the first Filipina ever to reach the WTA Top 20.
Now they meet again.
This time with partners.
This time at the US Open.
And this time with a quarterfinal spot on the line.
Final Thoughts
Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils are about as interesting a first-round opponent as Alex Eala and Félix Auger-Aliassime could have drawn.
They’re husband and wife.
They’re both accomplished tennis stars.
Svitolina remains a Top 10-level player.
Monfils is playing the final US Open of his professional career.
And this will be their first official doubles tournament together.
That creates a matchup full of storylines before the first ball is even struck.
For Alex, there’s also familiarity.
She has already beaten Svitolina this year.
But mixed doubles changes everything.
Now Monfils is at the net.
Félix is serving beside Alex.
The sets are short.
And every point suddenly feels much more important.
So yes, it’s a difficult first round.
But it’s also the kind of match Alex Eala’s career is increasingly producing.
Big names.
Big stages.
And real expectations.
If Eala and Auger-Aliassime can get past Svitolina and Monfils, the reward could be even bigger — potentially a quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka.
But first things first.
Alex Eala and Félix Auger-Aliassime have one very experienced husband-and-wife team standing in their way.
