Alex Eala brings gratitude, belief into US Open campaign

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines competes against Iva Jovic of the United States during the stars of the open at Fan Week as part of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2026 in New York City. Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines– Alex Eala heads to Louis Armstrong Stadium at Flushing Meadows as she begins her campaign in the 2026 US Open in New York.

Her first-round match against Mary Stoiana of the United States is scheduled for no earlier than 8:40 a.m. Wednesday (Philippine time) at the second-biggest stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

READ: Alex Eala at the 2026 US Open: Schedule, draw and history

Another big crowd is expected to bolster Eala, who is seeded 17th in the last Grand Slam tournament of the season on the strength of her career-high WTA ranking of No. 18.

The Filipino tennis star continued to express her gratitude for the support she has received, which has catapulted her into stardom and made her one of the most talked-about female athletes on the WTA Tour.

“I think at the forefront of everything is gratitude. I’m very grateful for the support that my fans give me and that my supporters give me,” Eala said during the pre-tournament press conference.

READ: Alex Eala returns to US Open with roaring fan base, rising star power

“Every single WTA player and every single ATP player has contributed to the world of tennis and its history just by being here and by putting in the work every single day,” Eala said. “Although there are certain things like the media that make me stand out, I think that I’m a drop in the ocean when it comes to these things.”

Eala is eyeing a repeat win over Stoiana, a main-draw qualifier currently ranked No. 122. The last time the two met, Eala beat the American in an ITF W100 tournament in Pennsylvania.

Eala is looking to surpass her best finish in a Grand Slam tournament after reaching the round of 16 at Wimbledon and cap off a strong hard-court campaign where she won her first WTA Tour-level title in Washington.

“I have a pretty strong baseline of belief in myself, and of course it’s very normal that it fluctuates. There are moments where it’s more difficult to believe in yourself, and there are moments where it’s much easier.

“But I think my baseline has remained quite steady, and maybe on an incline, but a very slow incline. What’s important is to have that foundation of, ‘I know what I can do, I’m strong,’ who I am as a person, what my character is.”