Alex Eala opens US Open campaign against Mary Stoiana in New York

Filipina tennis player Alex Eala begins her 2026 US Open campaign against American Mary Stoiana at Louis Armstrong Stadium, scheduled for no earlier than 8:40 a.m. Wednesday Philippine time. Eala is seeded 17th at the season's final Grand Slam. Eala, ranked a career-high No. 18 on the WTA Tour, expressed gratitude for her fan support during a pre-tournament press conference, calling herself "a drop in the ocean" among players. She previously defeated Stoiana, ranked No. 122, at an ITW W100 event in Pennsylvania. Eala aims to surpass her Wimbledon round-of-16 Grand Slam best and build on her first WTA Tour title in Washington. She emphasized maintaining a steady baseline of self-belief despite natural fluctuations in confidence.