Just a year ago, an unseeded Alex Eala, then ranked No. 71 in the world, staged a remarkable comeback to upset 14th seed Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11), in the opening round of the last Grand Slam of the year.
Eala entered the US Open this year as the 17th seed and treated a packed Louis Armstrong Stadium to a display of disciplined aggression and efficient shotmaking. She eased past qualifier Mary Stoiana of the United States, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round of the 2026 US Open on Wednesday morning.
Eala and Stoiana previously faced each other in the second round of the ITF W100 Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge in August 2024 in Landisville, Pennsylvania. Eala — then ranked No. 147 in the world — prevailed in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, over Stoiana, who was ranked No. 496 at the time.
The result was no different this time around.
The 21-year-old Eala came out a bit shaky in the opening game, committing a string of errors and facing two break points. However, she fought through the pressure to hold serve and take a 1-0 lead.
Eala then broke Stoiana twice while holding serve twice herself to surge to a 5-0 advantage. The 23-year-old Stoiana avoided a bagel by holding serve in the sixth game, but Eala responded with an easy hold to close out the set in just 31 minutes.
Eala landed 70-percent of her first serves, allowing her to dictate play and build a 28-15 advantage in winners.
Stoiana came out with more confidence in the second set, keeping pace with Eala until the fourth game, when the score remained tied at 2-2.
But Eala soon asserted her superiority against an opponent making her first appearance in a Grand Slam main draw. She broke Stoiana in the fifth game and followed it up with a service hold to move ahead, 4-2.
The seventh game proved to be Stoiana’s last stand as she battled to hold serve. Eala, however, would not be denied, eventually converting her fourth break point to move within a game of victory.
She then overcame a break point in the eighth game before holding serve to close out the match and eliminate the American.
Eala advances to the second round, where she will face Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine, who defeated American wild card Reese Brantmeier, 6-4, 6-4, in the opening round.
The Filipina star will also look to avenge her loss to the 25-year-old Oliynykova, who defeated Eala, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the first round of the WTA 500 Internationaux de Strasbourg in France last May.
