US OPEN

September 3, 2026

Alex Eala

Press Conference

A. EALA/O. Oliynykova

6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Moving on. Your thoughts on your level of play today?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I'm really happy with my performance. I think I played well. I had a good mindset, so super happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You have so many fans watching you. How much does it mean to get them to the weekend now, which is sort of like everyone's favorite part of the US Open?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Yeah, it means a lot for me to get to the weekend, and this is my first time being in the third round here at the US Open. Yeah, big achievement for me, as well.

Q. If I can take you to before the tournament briefly. There was a video online showing you getting to meet one of the funnest people on the internet, Nella Rose. I was curious what that experience was like. Since this is all fairly new, what is it like to meet people that you're fans of and find that they're fans of you?

ALEXANDRA EALA: That was a super, crazy interaction. It was so fast, and I did not expect it.

Nella, I've seen her so many times on YouTube and on the social platform, so to see her in person and for her -- I don't know. It's weird to think that some people that I watch a lot, they know me.

Yeah, sometimes I forget that I also have -- you know, I'm also kind of famous, but it was a great experience to meet her, yeah.

Q. Hypothetical question for now. You might face Iva Jovic in the third round. I wanted to get your take on what it's like to have a friend that you are close with that you are developing a relationship with, there's like this sisterhood between you guys and between a lot of girls on tour, and what is it like to kind of have to flip a switch and try to figure out, if you do play her, how to beat someone who has given you a lot of difficulty on the court?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Hypothetical answer?

Q. Please, if you don't mind.

ALEXANDRA EALA: No, but yeah, if I recall correct, she's playing Fran, who is also a good friend of mine. So either way it's going to be a tough match.

Yeah, I think, like you mentioned, sisterhood and just having friends on tour has helped me so much off the court, on the court. I think the friends that I have I really admire for what they've been through and what they go through.

With your question, specifically referring to Iva, yes, she's an amazing player, young, very talented, and very intelligent. Of course, she's a high-ranked player and very accomplished. I've encountered my fair share of challenges against her this year.

But, yeah, I mean, it's not under my control who I play. If I do play -- end up playing Iva or Fran, all I can do is give my best and try to do everything that I can to win.

Q. A two-part question. One, your family is complete, if I believe correctly here. Miko is here. How does that help you? Your team as well seems like it, because we saw Toni on practice court when you were practicing with Osaka. How has he helped you in the short moments we saw him on court with you?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Yes. You know, to have my family here and travel with me some weeks, it's great. They're also able to experience, you know. They went through the whole journey with me, so for them to experience being on tour, it's really nice for us to experience it together, as well as my team.

They've been on this journey, you know, through thick and thin. Toni, I've been working with for a really long time, of course, because I train at the Rafael Nadal Academy.

You know, it's nice to -- it's funny. When I was on court with Toni here, it's a full-circle moment, because I guess the first times I was on court with Toni or the times I'm on court with Toni, it's always in the Academy. Now I've gotten good enough where he's able to see me in US Open.

Same goes with my coaches Joan, Alexandro and Yuke. I think the people are a huge part of the journey, and I'm really happy to be able to experience, I guess, tennis at the highest level with them.

Q. You've been all over the world last year and a half feeling all of this fandom from the Filipino diaspora. Where has it been the most intense?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I would have to say internationally would be Dubai and Toronto. Those were two really Filipino-dense places or cities that I've competed in.

Of course, Manila, they had the WTA 125. That was also obviously very Filipino-dense. Melbourne was also a great one, yeah.

Q. I think already you're one of the best players in the world when it comes to taking the ball early, redirecting pace. I'm curious, when you see how low you stay on the ball, I'm curious what is the key to that for you? What is the key to being able to use opponent's pace and change directions?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Practice. I think practice. I practice a lot. This year I've had the pleasure to train and to compete with some of these really -- you know, the top players, so that definitely helps in pushing my level.

But, yeah, I think practice. I don't know what else to say, yeah.

Q. He referenced the Filipino diaspora when you play. Do you let yourself take that in, the flags, the signs, or do you try to tune out what's happening in the stands?

ALEXANDRA EALA: You mean during?

Q. Yeah, during your matches, yeah.

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think it's a good balance. Then again, when I'm really competing in the match, I don't tend to think about external factors, because there's already -- a tennis match at this level is very mentally costly, so there's not much room to think about external factors, but not to say that it doesn't go unnoticed.

Q. Today was a little bit of, I guess, a revenge match since the last time you faced her she got on top, but you obviously had a lot more success today. I'm just curious, what is your process like approaching when you face a player who maybe has success against you? Especially more specifically, what was that like today in your preparation for this match?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I believe that I played Oleksandra in Strasbourg just before Roland Garros. If I recall, it was a really intense battle, a long match.

I remember I had a good meeting with my coach after that one, and I think it was one of the matches this year that left a lasting impression. Obviously within that time frame from then to now I think I've improved a lot, and a lot of the points that we mentioned in said meeting were worked on. I put in the hours for that.

That being said, it's a very different circumstance. Different surface, different tournament, different time of the year. So it's very difficult to compare, but you know, focusing on today, I think I did really good in terms of being patient and sticking to my game.

Q. If you could compare yourself maybe mentally where you're at in terms of playing the Grand Slams from last year when you were here until now, given that you've had the experience now and had a second week at Wimbledon, now third round here, is it getting easier for you in terms that you can now use some experience that you've gained?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think experience is definitely helpful. I do feel like a more well-rounded player now and more mature. I guess with time comes maturity and more intelligent.

I think I just have more knowledge with experience in terms of tennis and competing at the very high level and knowledge of what I'm capable of and belief in myself.