Alex Eala Reaches US Open Round 2 With 6-1, 6-2 Win Over Mary Stoiana

Q: Facing the opponent who beat her months ago, what secret strategy will Eala unleash to keep her US Open dream alive?

There is no known “secret strategy.” The evidence points to Eala leaning on the same formula that carried her past Stoiana: a stronger serve, aggressive hard-court baseline play, and better execution in pressure moments. Against Stoiana, Eala won 28 of 44 first-serve points and saved all six break points she faced, a sign that her serve has become a genuine weapon rather than just a way to start rallies. That matters against Oleksandra Oliynykova, who beat her in three sets in Strasbourg on clay in May. The rematch is on a hard court, a surface that suits Eala far better. She has repeatedly said hard courts fit her game, which is built on early ball-striking, flat groundstrokes and taking control from the baseline. Her recent rise also suggests she has more tools now than she did a few months ago. Eala arrived in New York after a breakthrough stretch that included a WTA 500 title in Washington and wins over high-level opponents such as Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina and Jessica Pegula. That run underlined her growing confidence and improved ability to dictate against top players. So the most likely “strategy” is not surprise but refinement: target Oliynykova with left-handed patterns, protect serve, attack early in rallies, and use her comfort at Flushing Meadows to turn revenge into results. If Eala serves as well as she did in round one and stays composed on big points, she will give herself a strong chance to keep her US Open run alive.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Sep 2

No. 17 seed Alex Eala moved into the US Open second round with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over qualifier Mary Stoiana at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.
28 of 44 first-serve points and all six break points saved underpinned the 21-year-old Filipina's straight-sets win after she raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set.
Stoiana briefly pushed in the second set, earning four break points across Eala's first two service games, but Eala held firm before breaking for 3-2 and closing out the match.
The win matched Eala's best US Open main-draw result and improved her head-to-head record against Stoiana to 2-0.
Eala next faces Oleksandra Oliynykova, who beat Reese Brantmeier 6-4, 6-4, with the Filipina seeking revenge for a three-set loss in Strasbourg in May.