Alex Eala sends heartfelt message to Filipino fans after advancing to US Open third round
Alex Eala opened up about the special connection she shares with the Filipino crowd after another impressive win at the US Open.
Alex Eala continued her impressive run at the 2026 US Open, advancing to the third round while once again soaking in the support from Filipino fans in New York.
The No. 17 seed booked her place in the Round of 32 with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova on Thursday at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The win also gave Eala some revenge after Oliynykova defeated her in a three-set match in Strasbourg earlier this year.
The World No. 18 was again backed by a vocal Filipino crowd, with fans filling the stadium with Philippine flags, chants and signs throughout the match. Their support has become one of the defining parts of her US Open experience.
After the victory, Eala took time to acknowledge what the Filipino community has brought to her run.
“I mean, they’re so passionate and so loving and definitely make me feel loved. They make me feel at home,” she said.
“They make me feel at home. … They are introduced to tennis, and tennis is introduced to a new demographic. So I think that’s a really beautiful thing.”
Alex Eala on seeing her fellow Filipinos in the stands at the US Open
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The 21-year-old also highlighted how the support has helped introduce more people to tennis while allowing the sport to connect with a new audience.
“And yeah, I think it creates a great atmosphere for everyone here in tennis and it’s a give and take relationship,” Eala said. “They are introduced to tennis and tennis is introduced to a new demographic so I think that’s a really beautiful thing.”
Eala’s latest victory marks the first time she has reached the third round of the US Open. She reached the second round in her main-draw debut last year, making this her deepest run yet in New York.
The Filipina star has also carried strong momentum into the tournament after making history at the DC Open, where she became the first Filipino to win a WTA Tour-level singles title.
Now, Eala will await the winner of No. 14 seed Iva Jovic and British qualifier Francesca Jones for her third-round matchup. Jovic entered the second round after defeating Magdalena Frech, 7-5, 6-3, while Jones advanced past Magda Linette, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
With another round secured, Eala will look to keep her breakthrough US Open campaign going while continuing to enjoy the support that has followed her throughout her time in New York.
Alex Eala continued her impressive run at the 2026 US Open, advancing to the third round while once again soaking in the support from Filipino fans in New York. The No. 17 seed booked her place in the Round of 32 with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova on Thursday at Louis Armstrong Stadium.