FILIPINA tennis star Alexandra Eala will open her 2026 US Open campaign against American qualifier Mary Stoiana after the tournament draw was finalized Saturday (PH time).
Eala, the No. 17 seed, earned a direct spot in the main draw and will meet the 23-year-old Stoiana, who booked her place after beating Yuan Yue, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, in the final round of qualifying on Friday.
The first-round matchup gives Eala a chance to renew an old rivalry, as she previously defeated Stoiana at the W100 event in Landisville, Pennsylvania, in August 2024. Eala won that encounter, 7-5, 6-2.
Stoiana, however, arrives in New York with an impressive résumé of her own.
Before turning professional, the Connecticut native was among the leading players in American collegiate tennis. She helped Texas A&M win its first NCAA women’s team championship in 2024 and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
She also received the ITA National Player of the Year award that season and was a two-time SEC Player of the Year.
Stoiana compiled a 138-20 singles record during her college career and has since collected three ITF singles titles. She won in Edmond in 2024 before adding championships in Austin and Chihuahua in 2025.
The American has also made progress on the professional circuit this year, reaching the semifinals of WTA 125 tournaments in Midland and Ilkley. She also made the qualifying draw in Cincinnati.
Stoiana enters her first Grand Slam singles main draw ranked No. 122 in the world.
Eala will be looking to build on her growing success on the international stage as she competes in her latest Grand Slam as a seeded player.
The winner of the Eala-Stoiana match will advance to the second round to face either Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva or American wildcard Reese Brantmeier.
No. 14 seed Iva Jovic could await in the third round, while fourth-seeded American Coco Gauff is a potential fourth-round opponent. (Adrian Co)
