The Filipina world No. 18 pushed her best friend to the brink before a dream US Open run ended in heartbreak. Alex Eala fell to Iva Jovic, 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, in the third round on Sunday morning (Manila time) inside a jampacked Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Eala battled back from a set down, won her first career set against Jovic, and even led the deciding set before the home favorite pulled out a slugfest that lasted just over three hours. It was her third win over Eala this year, and the spot that slipped away was her first shot at a US Open fourth round.
A comeback that nearly shocked a stadium
Playing for the first time at the 23,771-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, Eala fell behind 4-1 in the opening set before breaking Jovic twice to level at 4-4. She could not hold serve in the closing stages and dropped the set, 7-5.
In the second set, Eala showed more patience, extended rallies, and pinned Jovic behind the baseline. She broke early for a 3-1 lead, added a third break in the eighth game, and closed out the set in the ninth to take the first set she has ever won against Jovic.
The deciding set that slipped away
The decider was peak shotmaking. Eala broke Jovic to open, built a 2-0 lead, then stretched it to 4-2. Jovic responded by holding and winning the next two games to level at 4-4. Eala saved a match point to reach 5-5, but Jovic had just a little more left and won the final two games to seal the match.
| Set | Alex Eala | Iva Jovic | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 7 | Jovic |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | Eala |
| 3 | 5 | 7 | Jovic |
What it means
- Jovic improves to 3-0 against Eala in 2026; Eala won her first career set off her former doubles partner.
- The American, the tournament’s 14th seed, advances to face world No. 4 Coco Gauff in the round of 16.
- The loss still marks Eala’s deepest US Open run yet, after first-round and second-round exits her prior two visits.
- Eala’s breakthrough 2026 climb continues despite the exit, with the world Top 20 breakthrough the main story of her season.
Eala’s run to this stage had already made her the biggest story in Philippine sport, and Sunday’s fightback only added to the narrative. She leaves New York with her highest singles ranking yet and a first real glimpse of a fourth-round berth that, for a few minutes in the decider, looked within reach. The upward trajectory continued even in defeat.
