FILIPINA tennis standout Alexandra Eala suffered a 6-3 defeat to close friend Iva Jovic in an entertaining exhibition match at Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of the 2026 US Open’s “Stars of the Open” event on Thursday (Friday in the Philippines).
Jovic established an early advantage, winning the opening two games before Eala settled into the contest. The match then became more competitive, with the two young stars exchanging games until the American pulled ahead, 5-3.
Jovic eventually closed out the one-set exhibition to claim the win.
The match was staged as part of an event featuring rising stars from the ATP and WTA tours, with proceeds going to the USTA Foundation. It also gave both players an opportunity to get a feel for the US Open atmosphere ahead of their singles campaigns.
The exhibition featured several lighthearted moments. A young player from the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program joined Eala and Jovic on court after the third game, while both players’ fathers later took part in the action.
Despite the result, Eala said she enjoyed playing in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium and viewed the match as valuable preparation.
“It’s been amazing. The stadium is packed, so electric,” Eala said during a mid-match interview.
She added that competing against a strong opponent in such an atmosphere allowed her to work on maintaining focus while also enjoying the occasion.
Eala and Jovic are no strangers to each other, having already met in competitive matches this season. Their friendship has also been highlighted during the US Open, including a social media appearance in which they tried Filipino snacks together.
The two will now shift their focus to the US Open women’s singles draw.
Eala enters the Grand Slam as the No. 17 seed, the highest seeding of her career, while Jovic is seeded No. 14. (Adrian Co)
