Alexandra Eala's Fans Test U.S. Open Etiquette in 1st-Round Match

Q: Will Alexandra Eala's historic momentum carry her to a U.S. Open title after conquering top-tier opponents?

Yes—but she is a credible contender, not a favorite. Eala’s form gives real substance to the hype. She arrived at the U.S. Open after a breakthrough hard-court summer that included her first WTA title in Washington, where she beat a string of elite opponents including Zheng Qinwen, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula. Earlier, she also stunned Iga Świątek at Wimbledon. Those wins show she can handle top-tier opposition, not just lower-ranked players. Her opening U.S. Open performance backed that up. Eala beat Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2, saved all six break points she faced, and controlled the match with strong serving and baseline pressure. Just as important, she looked composed despite the unusually loud, emotionally charged support from the Filipino crowd, which has become a defining feature of her rise. Still, winning seven matches at a Grand Slam is a different test from producing isolated upsets or even winning a WTA 500. Eala is ranked No. 18, has momentum, and is clearly playing at a top-20 level, but the women’s field remains deep, with players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff carrying more proven Grand Slam pedigree. So the evidence suggests Eala has a genuine path to a deep run—potentially into the second week and beyond. But calling her the likely champion would go too far. Her recent victories make a title possible; the depth of the draw means it is still an uphill climb.

Q: Can former NCAA champion Mary Stoiana bounce back from this crushing Grand Slam debut against a rising superstar?

Yes. Mary Stoiana’s 6-1, 6-2 loss to Alexandra Eala was a harsh Grand Slam debut, but it does not look like a damaging verdict on her long-term prospects. The context matters. Stoiana, 23, came into the U.S. Open ranked No. 122 and had already achieved a breakthrough just by qualifying for her first Grand Slam main draw, beating Harmony Tan, Katie Swan and Yue Yuan. She then ran into one of the tour’s hottest players in Eala, a Top 20 seed whose recent rise includes a WTA title, deep runs in major events and wins over elite opponents. Stoiana also had to manage a loud, heavily pro-Eala crowd in a main stadium setting. The scoreline was one-sided, but the matchup was difficult. Eala saved all six break points and controlled play with strong serving and baseline pressure. That says as much about Eala’s current level as it does about Stoiana’s inexperience on this stage. There is solid evidence Stoiana can recover. She was the top player in NCAA tennis at Texas A&M, helped win the 2024 national championship, owns a 138-20 college singles record, and has already translated that form into the pro game with three ITF singles titles and a rise from No. 223 at the start of 2026 to No. 122 by late August. Her all-court style, variety and transition skills give her tools to keep developing. The key now is whether she uses this loss as a reference point, not a setback. For a player in her first full transition from college star to tour-level professional, that is entirely realistic.

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 2

Louis Armstrong Stadium turned unusually loud Tuesday as Alexandra Eala’s supporters waved Philippine flags and cheered nearly every point in her first-round U.S. Open match.
The scene stood out because tennis typically prizes restraint, making the 21-year-old Filipino star’s following a direct challenge to the sport’s staid spectator norms.
Eala, ranked No. 18, faced 23-year-old American underdog Mary Stoiana, with the crowd’s volume becoming part of the atmosphere from the opening game at 30-30.
The reaction underscored how Eala’s rising profile is bringing a more fervent, soccer-like fan culture onto one of tennis’s biggest stages.