NEW YORK — Alex Eala’s first Grand Slam mixed-doubles campaign came to a quick end after the Filipina tennis star and Canadian partner Felix Auger-Aliassime were beaten by the husband-and-wife tandem of Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, 4-1, 4-1, in the opening round of the 2026 US Open mixed-doubles competition.
The defeat came in just 39 minutes at Louis Armstrong Stadium, ending the highly anticipated Eala-Auger-Aliassime partnership before it could gain much momentum. The official US Open classified the match as Round 1, despite some reports describing it as a Round of 16 because the mixed-doubles draw featured 16 teams.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime actually made the first move, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening set. But Svitolina and Monfils quickly seized control, stringing together four consecutive games to take the set, 4-1.
The Filipino-Canadian pair again opened the second set with a 1-0 advantage, only for the French-Ukrainian duo to respond immediately and close out another 4-1 set. According to the US Open, the match was played under the tournament’s revamped mixed-doubles format, which uses first-to-four-game sets, no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak in place of a traditional third set.
The result was particularly notable because Eala and Auger-Aliassime entered the event as one of the more intriguing new partnerships. Eala, who has rapidly climbed the WTA rankings, was making her Grand Slam mixed-doubles debut, while Auger-Aliassime brought significant doubles experience, including a mixed-doubles bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite the short-lived campaign, the match also showcased the strong Filipino support surrounding Eala in New York. The official US Open noted that Filipino fans helped create a lively atmosphere inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, highlighting what Auger-Aliassime had previously called the “Eala Effect.”
The victory was also a memorable one for Svitolina and Monfils. The married pair were playing their first competitive doubles match together, and the win extended their momentum as they advanced deeper into the tournament.
Eala’s US Open story is far from over
For Filipino tennis fans, the mixed-doubles loss is only a brief setback in what has already been a breakthrough season for Eala.
The 21-year-old arrived in New York after reaching a career-high No. 18 in the WTA rankings. She also became the first Filipina to win a WTA singles title after capturing the Washington, D.C. tournament earlier this month.
Her rise has made the 2026 US Open particularly significant. Eala is preparing for another appearance in the women’s singles main draw, with the tournament scheduled to begin on August 30. The official singles draw is set to be revealed on August 27.
Before the singles competition begins, Eala is also scheduled to face close friend Iva Jovic in the Stars of the Open exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium on August 27. The US Open says the exhibition will feature several of tennis’ rising stars and begin at 6 p.m. local time.
That means the early mixed-doubles exit does not define Eala’s US Open campaign.
Instead, it leaves the Filipina star with a chance to reset—and prepare for the event that matters most.
After a breakthrough year that has already included a first WTA title, a historic rise into the Top 20 and a deeper Grand Slam run at Wimbledon, Eala now turns her attention to the US Open singles draw, where the stakes—and expectations—will be considerably higher.
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