Eala faces Stoiana in US Open first round

Alexandra Eala, the 17th-seeded Filipina, will open her US Open campaign against American qualifier Mary Stoiana in the first round at Flushing Meadows. The match is scheduled for early next week, with the exact date and court assignment yet to be confirmed. This encounter marks the second meeting between the two players, following Eala's straight-sets victory over Stoiana at an ITF tournament in Landisville, Pennsylvania, in 2024. Stoiana, 23, is making her Grand Slam main draw debut after successfully navigating the qualifying rounds. She defeated Harmony Tan, Katie Swan, and Yue Yuan to secure her spot. A former standout at Texas A&M University and the 2024 Honda Sports Award winner for top college player, Stoiana has steadily risen in the rankings this year, climbing from outside the top 220 to a career-high No. 122. Despite being an American, she did not receive a wildcard and earned her place through qualifying. Eala enters the tournament as the No. 17 seed, her highest Grand Slam seeding to date. The 21-year-old is riding a wave of momentum after winning her first WTA Tour title at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., where she defeated several top players.