Alex Eala Powers Past Mary Stoiana in US Open Opening Round

Filipina No. 17 seed Alex Eala advanced to the second round of the 2026 US Open with a 6-1, 6-2 win over American qualifier Mary Stoiana at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Flushing Meadows. Eala seized control early, breaking Stoiana’s serve in the second and fourth games of the first set and racing to a 5-0 lead. After a brief hold by Stoiana, Eala served out the opening set and repeated the pattern in the second, securing the match in straight sets.

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• First-serve points: Eala won 28 of 44 points on her first serve, while Stoiana captured 16 of 44.

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• Break points: Eala saved all six break points she faced.

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• Head-to-head: The win extends Eala’s 2-0 record over Stoiana; the pair previously met at the 2024 ITF W100 Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge, where Eala won 7-5, 6-2.

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• Play style: Eala dictated rallies with aggressive shot-making and limited unforced errors, according to the match analysis.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

• “I want to thank the community here in New York, the tennis fans not just from the Philippines, who have been making me feel so loved and who are so enthusiastic and contributing to the growth of women's tennis,” — Alex Eala

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Eala also noted that Stoiana “put me in uncomfortable positions” during several exchanges, especially at the start of the second set, highlighting the competitive moments she faced despite the lopsided score.

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Eala’s next opponent will be Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, who defeated her in a three-set battle at the Strasbourg Open in May. The upcoming match offers Eala a chance to avenge that loss and continue her ascent on the WTA Tour, building on the momentum from her 2022 US Open Juniors title won on the same court.

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