Alex Eala has already made an amazing 2026 US Open record even before playing a match!
Alex Eala has made waves at the US Open even before playing her first match – and it’s a record that might be hard to beat.
With tennis legends like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Serena Williams stepping away from the sport, there’s a big gap waiting to be filled by the new stars.
Right now, we’re seeing some exciting players rise up. Arthur Fery has become Britain’s top player after his Wimbledon success, while Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are winning many of the big titles on the men’s tour. On the women’s side, Emma Raducanu’s injury troubles have held her back, but Aryna Sabalenka is bouncing back strong and looks ready to stay at the top for a while.
But a fresh face is shining bright – Alex Eala from the Philippines. At just 21, she won her first WTA Tour title in Washington this year and climbed from 53rd to 18th in the world rankings in 2026.
What’s really amazing is her huge fanbase from the Philippines, who are filling stadiums faster than ever for tennis. Her popularity is even getting compared to the legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao!
Before the US Open starts, excitement is high. With a few wins, Eala could become the greatest tennis player her country has ever seen. Experts even believe she might one day be ranked world number one.
She already made history with her warm-up exhibition match, which has become the most-watched video of its kind on YouTube during the 2026 US Open coverage. The “Stars of the Open” game against Iva Jovic has 1.8 million views – even more than the famous 2009 men’s final between Juan Martin del Potro and Roger Federer.
Last year’s record was just 624,000 views, set by a mixed doubles exhibition featuring big names like Andre Agassi and Serena Williams. Other matches from this series this weekend had far fewer views. Even the 2025 men’s final highlights between Alcaraz and Sinner have 1.3 million views, showing just how impressive Eala’s numbers are.
For a friendly 50-minute tennis game, these huge numbers show how popular she is and explain why her matches sell out so quickly.
Eala starts her main US Open run with a first-round match against American Mary Stoiana. There could be big things ahead – with four Grand Slam winners on her side of the draw, it would be amazing to watch her take on such tough competition.