Alex Eala Moves Up Two Spots in WTA Rankings After US Open First-Round Victory

The young tennis sensation from Philippines, Alex Eala registered a dominating win in her first round match at the US Open 2026. The win helped her jump two spots up in the latest WTA Rankings. The current world number seed brushed aside the 122nd-ranked qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the last Grand Slam of the year on Tuesday evening.

The Filipino broke her compatriot’s serve twice in each set, and saved all the six break points that she faced on her own serve. The match was played under closed roof conditions at the Louis Armstrong Stadium because of the rain on day 3 of the tournament.

The first-round victory for the 21-year-old young star has set her up for a second round clash against 25-year-old Ukrainian, Oleksandra Oliynykova who is much lower ranked than Eala. For the Filipino this will be her second time going through the second round at the US open after she had reached the same stage last year during her maiden appearance at the Flushing Meadows.

Speaking to the press after her win, she said, “It felt different (to last year), definitely. But not to say that one is more challenging than the other. It is just different circumstances. It was my first time playing on one of the main stadiums here in the US Open and it was very loud. And especially when the roof is covered. So that’s something that adds to the atmosphere, but it's also something you have to navigate.”

She further added, “Coming in as a seeded player and having done pretty good, I would say this American swing, it brings a different vibe. Of course, you’re a little more confident. There’s a little more expectation, but I think I handled it.”

Alex Eala Moves Up in the Live WTA Rankings

Before starting her campaign at the US Open 2026, Eala had achieved her career-best ranking and she was the World No 18 after winning 10 matches during the hard court season across different tournaments in Toronto, Cincinnati, and Washington DC. Now after her opening round win at the Flushing Meadows, she has jumped two places up to a new high position of her career at no 16 in the Live WTA Rankings.

Eala now has 2,216 points, having gained 70 WTA rankings points for her first round win. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka, and Iva Jovic both started the US Open ranked above Eala in the WTA Rankings, but now they have dropped to 18th and 17th place respectively in the Live Rankings as they dropped points from 2025.