Alex Eala Faces Iva Jovic in US Open Exhibition

MANILA – The scoreline will say Alex Eala lost 6-3 to Iva Jovic. That was never really the story.

Under the lights of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the US Open looming, two teenagers turned a tune-up hit into something far warmer and far more memorable.

Eala, the 17th seed in New York, and Jovic, seeded 14th, treated the Stars of the Open exhibition on August 27 as both rehearsal and celebration. They traded heavy groundstrokes, shared smiles between points, and then, at the end, handed the stage to the men who first put rackets in their hands.

As the one-set match wound down, the friends called their fathers onto the court for a brief mixed doubles cameo. The competitive edge softened into laughter. Rallies were short, the cheers were loud, and it all ended with hugs at the net – daughters and dads wrapped together in a moment that cut through the usual hard edges of Arthur Ashe.

Before leaving, Eala and Jovic addressed the crowd in their native languages, a personal touch in one of tennis’ biggest arenas. For a night, Flushing Meadows felt less like a battleground and more like a shared living room, just with 20,000 guests looking on.

There was still a match to be played, and Jovic once again had the sharper finish.

Eala fell behind 0-2 but dug in, clawing back to 3-all as she found her range and rhythm. The comeback stirred the crowd and hinted at a tighter finish. Jovic shut that door quickly. The American rattled off the final three games, sealing the 6-3 win in under an hour and extending a dominant run over her friend this year.

Jovic has now beaten Eala three times in 2026, adding this exhibition to wins at the French Open and the HSBC Championships. The pattern is clear: when they share a court, Jovic holds the edge.

Looking Ahead

The stakes rise now.

Proceeds from Stars of the Open will go to the USTA Foundation, but the charity stops when the main draw begins. Eala, carrying the No. 17 seed, opens her US Open campaign against a qualifier in the first round. On paper, it’s a manageable start. In reality, any loose set in New York can turn brutal in a hurry.

If she advances, Eala will face the winner of Oleksandra Oliynykova against wildcard Reese Brantmeier in the second round – a different kind of test, with the pressure of expectation growing with each step.

Lurking in her section is a familiar name.

Jovic, the 14th seed, begins against Magdalena Fręch. The winner of that match will meet either Magda Linette or another qualifier in the second round. Navigate that, and the draw points to a potential third-round clash between Jovic and Eala – a rematch with real weight, this time with ranking points and Grand Slam momentum on the line.

On Tuesday night, they shared jokes, their fathers, and a gentle exhibition. If New York delivers the reunion everyone can see coming, there will be no mixed doubles, no playful rallies, no soft landing.

Just two rising stars, one growing rivalry, and a stadium that now knows both of their names.