Alexandra Eala reaches US Open Rd 2 for second straight year
Synopsis
Alexandra Eala is making Flushing Meadows feel like home. The No. 17 seed dismantled American qualifier Mary Stoiana — saving all six break points against her — to reach the US Open second round for the second year running. With nine wins in her last 11 hard-court matches and a Washington title already in the bag, Eala arrives in New York as a genuine threat to go deep.
Key Takeaways
Alexandra Eala defeated Mary Stoiana to advance to the 2026 US Open second round at Flushing Meadows .
Eala has now reached Round 2 at the US Open in two consecutive years (2025 and 2026).
17 seed won the first set 6-1 , taking 84% of her first-service points.
She saved all six break points against her and converted four of eight break chances.
Eala has won nine of her last 11 hard-court matches since Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round for the first time.
She next faces Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova , who beat her 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in Strasbourg earlier this year.
Alexandra Eala opened her 2026 US Open campaign with a commanding victory over American qualifier Mary Stoiana at Louis Armstrong Stadium, advancing to the second round at Flushing Meadows for the second consecutive year. The No. 17 seed from the Philippines was clinical in the clutch, saving all six break points against her while converting four of eight chances on Stoiana's serve.
How the Match Unfolded
Eala's opening service game was nervy — she had to save two break points before settling into the contest. From that moment, however, she was relentless, storming to a 5-0 lead and closing out the first set 6-1, winning an impressive 84 percent of her first-service points in the process.
Stoiana threatened again at the start of the second set, generating two more break-point chances in Eala's first service game. She could not convert either, and Eala responded by breaking in the fifth game of the second set to seize control. She then reeled off the final five games in succession, finishing the match in the same dominant fashion she had started it.
Context and Form Heading In
The result extends a remarkable hard-court run for Eala, who has now won nine of her past 11 matches on the surface since Wimbledon. That Wimbledon campaign itself was a milestone — she reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. Earlier in the North American swing, she claimed a title in Washington, D.C., underlining her comfort on hard courts.
Eala's record at the US Open is also building steadily. In her 2025 debut at Flushing Meadows, she upset then-14th seed Clara Tauson before falling to Cristina Bucsa in the second round. This year, she has already matched that opening-round success, having also won her first-round match at Wimbledon earlier this summer — making it back-to-back opening wins at consecutive majors.
What's Next for Eala
Eala's second-round opponent will be Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova. Their most recent meeting came in Strasbourg earlier this year, where Oliynykova won a three-set battle 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Eala will be looking to reverse that result on the biggest hard-court stage in the world.
With momentum firmly on her side and a home crowd at Flushing Meadows warming to her game, Eala's 2026 US Open run has the makings of another deep campaign.
Point of View
And the numbers back it up — nine wins in eleven hard-court matches is not a hot streak, it is a pattern. What is notable is how she handles pressure points: saving all six break points in a match where Stoiana targeted her serve repeatedly suggests a mental step-change, not just a technical one. The Oliynykova rematch is the real test — losing that Strasbourg three-setter means Eala will need to find answers she did not have a few months ago. If she does, a deep US Open run is well within reach.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Alexandra Eala defeat in the 2026 US Open first round?
Eala defeated American qualifier Mary Stoiana in the first round of the 2026 US Open at Flushing Meadows. She won the first set 6-1 and closed out the match after breaking in the fifth game of the second set.
What is Alexandra Eala's seeding at the 2026 US Open?
Alexandra Eala is seeded No. 17 at the 2026 US Open. It reflects her strong form on the hard-court circuit this season, including a title run in Washington, D.C.
Who will Eala face in the US Open second round?
Eala will face Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round. The pair last met in Strasbourg earlier in 2026, where Oliynykova won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
What has been Eala's form leading into the 2026 US Open?
Eala has won nine of her past 11 hard-court matches since Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. She also claimed a title in Washington, D.C. during the North American hard-court swing.
How has Eala performed at the US Open historically?
In her 2025 US Open debut, Eala upset 14th seed Clara Tauson before losing to Cristina Bucsa in the second round. In 2026, she has already matched that opening-round success, making it back-to-back first-round wins at the tournament.
