Arya News - Eala built on her blazing start to withstand Oliynykova’s comeback in the second set and surpass her breakthrough second-round finish at Flushing Meadows last year.
MANILA – Alex Eala marched on to the third round of the US Open 2026 after turning back Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine, 6-1, 6-4 on Friday at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.
Eala built on her blazing start to withstand Oliynykova’s comeback in the second set and surpass her breakthrough second-round finish at Flushing Meadows last year.
“I think my patience and the consistency of my focus–I think that was the key to winning the match today,” Eala said in the on-court interview.
She faces either Iva Jovic or Francesca Jones in the Round of 32.
Eala, the world No. 18 and 17th seed, won the first eight points to race to a 2-0 lead before building a 4-0 advantage and wrapping up the set, 6-1, in just 23 minutes.
But the world No. 46 Oliynykova, who beat Eala last May on clay at the Strasbourg Open, came out with a steadier service game in the second set and took an early 2-1 lead.
Eala responded with a love hold and the first break of the second set to regain the advantage at 3-2 before Oliynykova broke back to tie it.
A break and a love service game pushed Eala closer to victory at 5-3. Oliynykova won a game to stay in contention, but the Eala served out the match to the delight of the Filipino fans.
“I think everybody represents something in their own way. I’m Filipino and I proudly represent that and a lot of the crowd here today is Filipino and I’m sure they share in that sentiment,” Eala said.
It was Eala’s second straight match at the second-largest stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, following her opening-round win over Mary Stoiana, also in straight sets.
Eala continues her impressive showing in the same city where she won her first Grand Slam title as a junior.