Amazing Alex thrives in spotlight

MANILA, Philippines — With greater power comes greater responsibility for Alex Eala – and she’s embracing it. She’s living the New York dream. Bigger following, larger stakes, brighter lights. More pressure, too.

But instead of being eaten alive by it, the 21-year-old Eala is soaking it all in at the Big Apple – with undeterred confidence and all-time high momentum from a banner year.

“Coming in as a seeded player and having done pretty good in this American swing brings a different vibe. Of course, you’re a little more confident,” said Eala, marching into Flushing Meadows as WTA No. 18 and the No. 17 seed – both career-highs for her and for Philippine tennis.

“There’s a little more expectation but I think I handled it. I’ve been handling it.”

And she’s doing it so far.

Eala opened with an emphatic first-round win and now sets out for a second-round duel against No. 46 Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine – early Friday morning, Manila time – back at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Buoyed by a legion of Filipino fans, Eala dispatched WTA No. 122 and former US NCAA MVP Mary Stoiana of the United States, 6-1, 6-2, on Wednesday at the 14,000-seater Armstrong – the second biggest court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center after the 23,771-seater Arthur Ashe Stadium.

She needed only 78 minutes.

Next up is a revenge bid. The 25-year-old Oliynykova advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 425 Reese Brantmeier of the USA in Round 1. She beat Eala in their first meeting in Strasbourg, France earlier this year, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6.

“It’s been a couple of months. I think I’ve developed a lot in the said months. So, all I can do is come into that match with the same mindset as today – the same mindset or an even better mindset than I’ve had these past couple of weeks – and try to do my best,” Eala vowed.

It’s a second straight second-round stint for Eala at the US Open after she stunned then-world No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), last year to become the first Filipina match-winner in any Grand Slam main draw.

Hopes are high she can clear the Oliynykova hurdle to arrange a third-round clash against either good friend Iva Jovic of the USA or No. 104 Francesca Jones of Great Britain – especially with an army of Filipinos behind her, as proven by the packed Armstrong crowd in Round 1.