Alex Eala Draws Huge US Open Crowds After Breakthrough Season

Alex Eala has arrived at the 2026 US Open with a level of attention that reflects her rapid rise in women’s tennis. The Guardian reported that crowds packed her practice sessions at Flushing Meadows before singles play, while demand for her opening match against American qualifier Mary Stoiana pushed resale ticket prices close to $400 after the schedule was announced.

The 21-year-old Filipino is ranked No. 18, the highest position ever achieved by a player from the Philippines. Her first-round match was assigned to Louis Armstrong Stadium, the tournament’s second-largest show court. One side of the lower bowl filled for a practice with Karolina Pliskova, and another session with Naomi Osaka also attracted a large crowd.

Eala’s profile has grown alongside a breakthrough season. According to the Guardian, she reached the fourth round at both Indian Wells and Miami, then defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets on Centre Court at Wimbledon. She later secured her first tour-level championship at the DC Open, beating Elina Svitolina, Osaka and Jessica Pegula during the title run.

The interest has extended well beyond New York. Five Philippine newspapers traveled to cover Eala at Indian Wells, while the DC Open organizer said more than 80 percent of that tournament’s ticket requests concerned her. Her Toronto Open debut sold out less than 30 minutes after the match time was announced, illustrating the scale of the following that now travels with her.

New York also carries special significance in Eala’s development. She first qualified for the US Open junior main draw in 2019 and won the girls’ title three years later. In 2025, she made her senior main-draw debut and became the first Filipino player in the Open era to win a Grand Slam match, defeating Clara Tauson before losing to Cristina Bucsa in the second round.

The Guardian noted that Eala is due to face Stoiana on Tuesday night. The American qualifier was formerly the No. 1 player in the US college system. Eala enters the match with only one previous senior main-draw victory at the US Open, but her results this season and the turnout around her practices have made her one of the tournament’s most closely watched players.