Eala Posts Dominant Win In Louis Armstrong, Advances To U.S. Open Second Round

Alexandra Eala moved onto the second round at the U.S. Open for a second consecutive year after the 21-year-old knocked off American Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 inside Louis Armstong Stadium on Tuesday night. 

Eala came out a bit rusty as she was forced to save a couple of break points in her opening service game, but after erasing those she was able to spring out to a 5-0 first set lead, closing it out a couple of games later. 

“There were nerves, for sure, and I am not really sure if I can pinpoint where they came from, [whether] it’s from the noise, if it’s from [being] in the first round of a Slam. But I think with experience, my goal is to tune it out,” said Eala. “I’ve had experience with big crowds, especially in the past year, and I think I’ve been navigating quite well within myself to keep the focus on what I need to pay attention to and points A, B and C. In the end, when you get into groove, get into the rhythm, we play tennis. You know a match is match, I think whether there are so many people or none, I think once the players get into that groove, the effect of external factors lessen a little bit.”

Eala found that groove, and despite facing a few more break points midway through the second set, she dug deep to hold. She then broke Stoiana in the fifth game and never looked back. After one hour and 18 minutes, Eala was through to the second round.

In all, Eala saved all six break points she faced.

“Every exchange had its own challenges,” said Eala. “Especially in the second set, I think she put me in uncomfortable positions.”

Eala will look to continue her run against Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova who posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over Reese Brantmeier on Tuesday. 

American Madison Keys avoided going home in the first round of the U.S. Open for a second year in a row as she defeated Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 in the first match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday. 

“It’s always tough playing someone who is young and up and coming, they’re going for all their shots,” said Keys. “It’s just so hard to play the first round of a Grand Slam, so nervous, wanting to do so well. I’m happy I was able to fight through that and get the win today.”

Keys will take on Hungary’s Anna Bondar next. 

French Open champion and fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva looked sharp with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Janice Tjen of Indonesia. Andreeva was clinical in her victory, converting on all four of her break point chances, and never facing one on her own serve. 

Andreeva takes on Germany’s Eva Lys next. 

Yulia Putintseva ousted 12th seed Belinda Bencic in a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 comeback win on Court 17.