Alex in stars of open show

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala enters the final phase of her US Open build-up with an exhibition match against good pal Iva Jovic at 6:30 a.m. today (Manila time) in the Stars of the Open at center court of the grand Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Eala is 0-2 against Jovic in official matches, bowing in the French Open in Paris (6-4, 6-2) and the Queen’s Club Championships in London (6-2, 6-2) this year. The two had also teamed up in doubles, reaching the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this year.

In the Stars of the Open, the 21-year-old Filipina and 18-year-old American will be joined by fellow rising stars Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, Joao Fonseca of Brazil, Amanda Anisimova, Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen of the USA, as well as Arthur Fils of France.

Legends led by 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and Andy Roddick of the United States had their turn earlier this week as the US Open rolled out the red carpet for the season’s final major with a bevy of sidelights.

From the royal box, hours after her foiled US Open mixed doubles debut, Eala was among the spectators in that iconic duel that marked the tennis return of the Swiss legend since retiring in 2022.

WTA No. 18 Eala and ATP No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada absorbed a 4-1, 4-1 defeat to the husband-and-wife duo of Gael Monfils of France and Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in Round 1 of the stacked field led by the powerhouse Novak Djokovic-Aryna Sabalenka tandem.

Monfils and Svitolina went on to reach the semifinals won by the Czech pair of Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik.

Aside from the friendly tiff with Jovic, Eala is fine-tuning her bearings in practice sessions with two-time US Open champion Venus Williams ahead of the biggest tournament of her blooming career yet.