ALEX Eala looked sharp in her opening singles test at the 2026 US Open, dispatching qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, on Wednesday (PH time) before a loud crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium that felt more like her home court.
The 17th-seeded Filipina breezed through the opening set then brushed off a spirited stand by the American qualifier in the second in this same tournament where she was the girls juniors champion just four years ago.
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This time, the 21-year old ranked No. 18 in the world won only her second US Open match as a professional in a little over an hour's work to set up a grudge match against Oleksandra Olinynykova of Ukraine.
Olinynykova, who beat her in the Round of 32 of a WTA 500 event in Strasburg last May. beat Reese Brantmeyer, 6-4, 6-4, in her own debut.
"It was very difficult. You know, every exchange had its own challenges, especially in the start of the second set," said Eala, who got only as far as the second round in this Grand Slam tournament last year.
"I think she put me in uncomfortable positions, and she's been having a great run coming from quali and a good past couple of weeks. So I'm really happy to win this match," she added.
Eala won 61 total points compared to Stoiana's 42. She converted 78 percent of her first serves, saved all six break points she faced, and didn't let her 122nd-ranked opponent to get on the board in her maiden Grand Slam appearance until the 6th game of the match.
She broke Stoiana four times.
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