Alex Eala and Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez are headed to the third round of the U.S. Open after straight-set victories that kept two of the tournament’s most closely followed Filipino players on course at Flushing Meadows.
Eala, the No. 17 seed, defeated Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4 on Sept. 3 at Louis Armstrong Stadium to advance to the third round. The win sent the 21-year-old into the U.S. Open third round for the first time and extended the wave of support from Filipino fans throughout her New York run.
Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist, reached the third round after beating Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. The 24-year-old from Laval, Quebec, has not dropped a set through her first two matches, following her 6-3, 6-2 opening-round victory over China’s Zhang Shuai.
Eala seizes the moment
Eala controlled the opening set against Oliynykova, dropping only one game before navigating a more competitive second set. She closed out the match 6-4 to surpass her previous best U.S. Open result and give her vocal supporters another reason to celebrate.
Her rise has made her one of the most important figures in Philippine tennis. A deep run in New York would add to a breakout season that has brought her growing international attention and a larger following among Filipino fans in the United States.
“It’s really special,” Eala said of the crowd support after the match. “I think Filipino culture is very—there’s a sense of community, and they really bring that wherever they go.”
Eala will next face either American No. 14 seed Iva Jovic or Britain’s Francesca Jones in the round of 32.
Fernandez faces Pegula
Fernandez was tested early by Sawangkaew but took command of the match after winning the opening set. Her 6-1 second set underscored a composed start to a tournament that remains particularly meaningful for the left-hander after her breakthrough run to the 2021 final.
The Filipino Canadian star next faces third-seeded American Jessica Pegula, who defeated Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1 in 56 minutes to set up the third-round meeting.
Eala’s growing popularity has become a story beyond the baseline. Her opening-round appearance in Louis Armstrong Stadium helped drive resale ticket prices sharply higher, with the lowest available seats rising from below $200 to nearly $400 within about 12 hours of the schedule announcement, according to TicketData Tracker.
The surge reflects the draw of Filipino fans in New York and beyond, many of whom have embraced tennis through Eala’s rise in a country where basketball and boxing have traditionally drawn broader followings. Her visibility has also prompted discussion about whether strong ticket demand has influenced marquee court assignments, with some fans criticizing perceived preferential treatment and others arguing that her ability to bring new audiences into tennis benefits the sport.
