Alex Eala is into the US Open third round for the first time, and she got there by erasing the one loss that stung all season. The 21 year old No. 17 seed swept Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4 in an hour and four minutes early Friday morning, Manila time, at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Payback against the player who beat her in Strasbourg
The result was revenge, served cold. Oliynykova, ranked No. 46 in the world, had beaten Eala in a marathon three setter at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in May after the Filipino led by a set. This time, Eala never let go of the front foot and closed out a win that felt personal.
“My patience and consistency of my focus, I think those were the keys to winning the match today,” Eala said after the match.
By the numbers
Data from the WTA shows how one sided the sweep was. Eala hit 19 winners against 17 unforced errors, broke serve five times, and won 11 of 14 points when she came forward. Oliynykova managed just six winners across both sets.
- 1 hour 4 minutes: the total match time
- 9 straight points to open the match and set the tone
- 5 breaks of serve for Eala on the night
- 6 winners total for Oliynykova, all in the second set
Her road through Flushing Meadows
| Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First round | Mary Stoiana (United States) | 6-1, 6-2 |
| Second round | Oleksandra Oliynykova (Ukraine, No. 46) | 6-1, 6-4 |
| Third round | Iva Jovic (No. 14) or Francesca Jones | To be decided |
Eala, now ranked No. 18 in the world, opened her campaign by dismissing American qualifier Mary Stoiana in straight sets. Reaching the third round already improves on last year, when she exited in the round of 64 in her New York main draw debut.
Who waits in the round of 32
Awaiting the Filipino next is either the No. 14 seed Iva Jovic or British qualifier Francesca Jones, who were due to play their own second round match later Thursday. “Who I play in the next round is definitely out of my control, but they’re both great friends of mine, both such amazing people and players,” Eala said.
A run the Philippines cannot stop watching
Every round in New York is turning into another chapter of what the international game now calls the biggest thing in Filipino sports since Pacquiao. She drew the Oliynykova rematch after cruising through her opener, and tennis royalty has already anointed her a world star. Having settled that score, Eala now chases her first Grand Slam fourth round with the whole country, and Flushing Meadows, behind her.
