McEnroe Speaks, Organizers Listen
Patrick McEnroe did not hold back when asked about Alex Eala's court assignments at the 2026 US Open. The former player and current ESPN commentator told the network that the USTA absolutely had to schedule the 21-year-old Filipino star on prominent show courts, warning that putting her on a side court early in the tournament would be a serious missed opportunity. His reasoning was straightforward: the New York crowd, he predicted, would go absolutely wild for her. Apparently, organizers were paying attention.
The USTA has confirmed that Eala will open her US Open campaign on Louis Armstrong Stadium, the second-largest venue at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The stadium seats 14,000 spectators, a fitting stage for a player who has become a genuine phenomenon in the Philippines and draws passionate support wherever she competes. Only the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium on the planet at nearly 24,000 seats, sits above it in terms of prestige and capacity.
A Career at Full Speed
The court assignment reflects just how far Eala has come in 2026. She carries a remarkable 38-20 record into the tournament, claimed her first WTA Tour title at the Washington Open to begin the North American hard-court swing, and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for her best Grand Slam result to date. Now ranked a career-high 18th in the world, she enters as the 17th seed, her highest-ever seeding at a major.
Her first-round opponent is Mary Stoiana, a 122nd-ranked American qualifier. A win would set up a second-round meeting with either Oleksandra Oliynykova or Reese Brantmeier. TennisDraw users have been backing Eala heavily in their bracket picks heading into this event.
