THE MATCH is set.
Alex Eala will face American qualifier Mary Stoiana in the opening round of the US Open women’s singles at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
The Filipina 17th seed hopes to make quick work of the American world No. 122 as she opens the tournament with her highest seeding so far in a Grand Slam - and only her second time entering a major as a seeded player.
READ As the 17th seed, Alex Eala battles qualifier in US Open opener
No date and schedule for Eala’s opening-round match have been announced yet.
Fortunately for Eala, she meets a familiar foe in the Stoiana whomshe already beat on the ITF Tour back in 2024, 7-5, 6-2, in the W100 Landisville in Pennsylvania, before she even broke into the WTA rankings.
While Eala was a direct entry to the main draw, Stoiana secured her spot after going through three rounds of qualifying.
The 23-year-old American booked her place in the main draw by beating Yuan Yue, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, in the final qualifying round. She defeated Harmony Tan and Katie Swan in the earlier rounds.
Stoiana, a former college tennis champion from Texas A&M, is making her Grand Slam debut and has no previous record of appearing in a major.
The winner will face either Yuliia Starodubtseva or wild card Reese Brantmeier in the second round.
Eala last saw action in the Round of 32 exit of the Cincinnati Open, where she fell to No. 10 Amanda Anisimova.
Eala is hoping to surpass her Round Two exit in last year's 2025 US Open, which was her maiden win in the level, and her Round of 16 finish at 2026 Wimbledon which stands as her best in a major.
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