NEW YORK — Alexandra Eala’s historic 2026 US Open campaign came to a dramatic end Sunday morning in the Philippines after the 21-year-old Filipina fell to close friend Iva Jovic in a grueling third-round battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 17th-seeded Eala pushed the 14th-seeded American to the limit before Jovic prevailed 7–5, 3–6, 7–5 in a match that lasted three hours and three minutes.
It was a painful ending for Eala, who had reached the US Open third round for the first time in her career. But the result also marked another major step in the rapid rise of the Filipina star, who entered New York as one of the tournament’s most closely watched young players.
Eala fights back—but Jovic survives
The match lived up to its billing as a showdown between two of the WTA Tour’s rising stars.
Jovic grabbed the opening set 7–5, but Eala refused to let the match slip away. The Filipina responded with aggressive returning and powerful baseline exchanges, taking the second set 6–3 to force a deciding set.
The third set became a tug-of-war.
Eala created a 4–2 advantage, putting herself within striking distance of completing the comeback. But Jovic found another level when the pressure was highest, winning five of the final six games to close out the match 7–5.
For Jovic, the victory was especially significant. The 18-year-old American reached the US Open Round of 16 for the first time, extending a breakthrough season that has already included deep Grand Slam runs.
A friendship turned fierce rivalry
The emotional weight of the match went beyond the scoreline.
Eala and Jovic are close friends who first met in 2022. They have trained and played doubles together, but their friendship has repeatedly been put aside when they meet in singles competition. The US Open itself highlighted their relationship before the match, describing them as two young players whose friendship has grown alongside their careers.
Unfortunately for Eala, Jovic has now won all three of their singles meetings in 2026.
The American previously defeated Eala at Roland Garros and again at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club. Their latest encounter was by far the closest, with Eala pushing Jovic through three fiercely contested sets.
Jovic will now face fellow American Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
Eala leaves New York with another milestone
Despite the loss, Eala’s US Open campaign represents another important milestone in her rapidly developing career.
She entered the tournament as the No. 17 seed, making her the highest-seeded Filipina in Grand Slam women’s singles history. Before this year’s run, her best US Open showing was the second round.
Her performance also came after an impressive stretch of tennis.
The Filipina had already enjoyed a breakthrough summer, including her first WTA singles title in Washington, D.C., and a historic run to the fourth round at Wimbledon. The official US Open preview noted that Eala had defeated notable opponents during her Washington title run, including Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula.
At Flushing Meadows, she continued that momentum by reaching the third round without dropping a set in her opening two matches. WTA reported that Eala surrendered just five games in her second-round victory over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova.
A loss, but hardly a setback
Eala’s exit means there will be no Filipino singles player in the US Open women’s Round of 16 this year.
But the significance of her run goes beyond advancing another round.
At just 21, Eala has established herself as one of the most promising young players in women’s tennis. Her ability to compete with higher-ranked opponents and produce deep runs at major tournaments is increasingly becoming a pattern rather than a one-off breakthrough.
Against Jovic, she showed precisely why.
She lost the opening set, fought back to level the match, then built a lead in the deciding set before the American produced the finishing surge.
The result will sting—but it also provided another glimpse of how close Eala is to consistently competing at the highest level.
For now, Jovic moves on.
Eala’s US Open journey is over.
But judging by the fight she showed under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, this is unlikely to be the last time the Filipina star makes headlines on tennis’ biggest stages.
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