FILIPINO tennis ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala will face American Mary Stoiana to begin her US Open campaign in Flushing Meadows, New York.
World No. 18 and tournament No. 17 seed Eala will likely take on the qualifier and world No. 122 Stoiana on Monday.
The Eala-Stoiana rematch in the round of 128 is not included in Sunday’s order of play.
Eala defeated Stoiana in their first encounter at the 2024 ITF 1000 Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge round of 16, 7-5, 6-2, in Pennsylvania.
The Filipino netter was then ranked No. 147, while Stoiana was a wildcard primarily competing in the US NCAA.
Eala, the reigning Mubadala D.C. Open champ, will enter her rematch against Stoiana more relaxed, having competed in mixed doubles and an exhibition match at the “Starts of the Open” only.
The 21-year-old teamed up with Felix Auger-Aliassime in mixed doubles where they exited in the first round, and yielded to world No. 14 Iva Jovic in the said exhibition.
Eala’s last official singles match was at the Cincinnati Open, where she fell to Amanda Anisimova in the third round, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6.
On the other hand, the 23-year-old Stoiana gutted her way to the US Open main draw.
The two-time SEC Player of the year from Texas A&M University topped French Harmony Tan in the first qualifying round, 6-4, 6-3.
Stoiana then outlasted British Katie Swan in the second round, 6(5)-7, 6-3, 6-3, before dispatching Chinese Yue Yuan in the third and final round of the qualifiers, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, on Saturday.
If Eala beats Stoiana anew, she will face either Ukranian Oleksandra Oliynykova or American Reese Brantmeier.
Oliynykova is ranked No. 46 while the wildcard Brantmeier is No. 425.
