ALEXANDRA “ALEX” EALA enters the final phase of her buildup with an exhibition match against her good pal Iva Jovic as the US Open draws the battle lines on Friday before the main draw action early next week.
While awaiting her official opponent in the official draw expected to be released on Friday, Ms. Eala duels with the American ace at 6:30 a.m. (Manila time) in the Stars of the Open exhibition matches at center court of the grand Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Ms. Eala is 0-2 against Ms. Jovic in official matches, losing in the French Open in Paris (6-4, 6-2) and the Queen’s Club Championships in London (6-2, 6-2) this year. Both also had teamed up in doubles, reaching the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this year.
In the Stars of the Open, the 21-year-old Filipina and 18-year-old American will be joined by fellow rising stars Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, Joao Fonseca of Brazil, Amanda Anisimova, Learner Tien and Alex Michelson of USA, as well as Arthur Fills of France.
Legends, led by 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and Andy Roddick of the United States, had their time earlier this week as the US Open rolled the carpet for the season’s final major with a bevy of sidelights.
From the royal box hours after her foiled US Open mixed doubles debut, Ms. Eala was one of the spectators in that iconic duel that marked the tennis return of the Swiss legend since retiring in 2022.
The WTA No. 18 Ms. Eala and ATP No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada absorbed a 4-1, 4-1 defeat to the wife-husband duo of Gael Monfils of France and Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in Round 1 of the stacked cast led by the powerhouse Novak Djokovic-Aryna Sabalenka tandem.
Mr. Monfils and Ms. Svitolina went on to reach the semifinals won by the Czech pair Karolina Muchova and Jacub Menzik.
Aside from a friendly game against Ms. Jovic though, Ms. Eala is fine-tuning her bearings in practice sessions with two-time US Open champion Venus Williams ahead of the biggest tournament of her blooming career just yet.
After being seeded No. 29 in Wimbledon where she had a magical Round of 16 run, Ms. Eala is projected to earn the highest seeding in history for any Filipino player ever, given her new career-best placing inside the Top 20.
Ms. Eala will have some unfinished business to settle in the US Open after a second-round exit last year, when she made her main draw debut as then-world No. 75. — John Bryan Ulanday