NEW YORK — Alex Eala advanced to the second round of the 2026 US Open after a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over American qualifier Mary Stoiana on Tuesday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The 17th-seeded Filipina overcame a shaky start before taking control of the match, breaking Stoiana four times and completing the win in one hour and 18 minutes.

Eala faced a break point in the opening game after a double fault but recovered to hold serve. She then broke Stoiana in the next game and quickly built a 5-0 lead.

Stoiana finally got on the board at 5-1, but Eala responded with a love hold to close out the first set.

The American showed more resistance in the second set, with the two players holding serve through 2-2.

Eala then secured a crucial break in the fifth game and pulled away from there.

Stoiana saved three break points in the seventh game, but errors eventually gave Eala another break before the Filipina served out the match.

“Of course, it was very difficult. Every exchange had its own challenges, especially in the start of the second set,” Eala said after the match.

She added that Stoiana had put her in uncomfortable positions but said she was pleased with how she handled the contest.

The victory was met with loud support from the mostly pro-Eala crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium, continuing the growing “Eala-mania” surrounding the Filipina tennis star.

Eala thanked the Filipino community and tennis fans in New York for their support.

“Thank you everybody for being part of my journey and making it such a pleasure to do my job,” she said.

Eala will face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round as she continues her US Open campaign.