Alex Eala collides with American qualifier Mary Stoiana in US Open first round

Alex Eala will put Mary Stoiana’s mettle to the test as the Filipina star opens her US Open campaign at the prestigious Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday at 8:40 p.m. (Monday, 8:40 a.m. in the Philippines).

Ranked No. 18 in the world and seeded no. 17 in the tournament, Eala is seeking to eclipse her previous US Open showing after bowing early in the last edition.

A year after that heartbreaking loss, Eala has soared up the rankings and etched her name on the global tennis stage.

Last year, she entered the US Open at No. 75 and stunned then 14th-seeded Clara Tauson in the opening round but lost to Cristina Bucsa in the next game to crash out of contention.

She is entering this year’s US Open as one of the favorites after capturing her first WTA Tour title at the Mubadala DC Open early last month, then making waves at the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, where thousands flocked to watch the Filipina star in action.

But Stoiana shouldn't be overlooked.

READ MORE | Who is Mary Stoiana? Alex Eala's first-round opponent in US Open

The 23-year-old American, who beat three opponents in the qualifying round to make her Grand Slam main draw debut, was a former US NCAA star for Texas A&M.

In 2023 and 2024, she was named the SEC Player of the Year while also helping the school seize its first title in 2024.

Eala and Stoiana have also met on court two years ago, with the Pinay ace pulling off 7-5, 6-2 win in the second round of the 2024 Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge.

Should Eala beat Stoiana anew, she will face either Oleksandra Oliynykova or Reese Brantmeier in the second round.

See photos of Alex Eala in the US Open events here:

—JMB, GMA News