UP next for Alex Eala is a chance for redemption against Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova in the round of 64 of the 2026 US Open women’s singles in New York.
After dispatching American qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, last Wednesday to open her campaign in the final Grand Slam of the year, the Filipina world No. 18 meets her one-time tormentor from the WTA 500 Strasbourg last May, their lone meeting which Oliynykova took in three sets, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
READ: Alex Eala dispatches qualifier Stoiana in opening US Open test
For her part, 46th-ranked and 25-year-old Oliynykova surpassed Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4, to advance.
Eala, age 21 and the 17th seed, won a total of 61 points in her first match. She is now into the second round, the same stage she exited from last year - and is hoping to surpass this time around.
At the Grand Slam level, this is only the second time Eala has been seeded, following her No. 29 seed at Wimbledon, where she advanced to the round of 16.
Their match is scheduled for early Friday morning, not before 12:40 a.m. Manila time.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
