Alex vs Jovic: Close but not enough

MANILA, Philippines — A dear friend struck a dagger into Alex Eala’s heart once more, putting an abrupt end not only to her US Open bid but to her 2026 Grand Slam season.

Coming closer than ever to finally toppling one of her closest friends but also her biggest kryptonite, the Filipina pride fumbled a golden chance, crumbling under pressure in a 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 heartbreaker to Iva Jovic of the United States in Round 3 of the US Open before a sellout crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows.

Tears welled up, but gratitude poured out when Eala faced the press.

“It’s indescribable to sum up the support and how it makes me feel in just a few words. It’s a real privilege to experience this in a lifetime,” said an emotional Eala at the podium.

“Oh God, sorry. Playing on Arthur Ashe and feeling the support, being in those environments, learning these lessons, and fighting and doing what I love. I’m really happy. I’m really lucky to have these opportunities, to have these people support me, and to be working hard and to be able to live this life how I’m living it.”

So near, yet so far

Eala had never won a set against the 18-year-old American in their first two meetings. After finally doing it with a second-set masterclass, the 21-year-old Filipina was knocking on victory’s door with what seemed a comfortable 4-2 lead in the decider.

She was on the cusp of a 5-2 cushion, earning two break points in the seventh game, only for unforced errors to haunt her down the stretch.

Jovic, world No. 14, held serve, then broke Eala in the next game as part of a killer 5-1 closing salvo that catapulted her into the Round of 16 against fellow American and world No. 4 Coco Gauff.

It was a marathon lasting three hours and three minutes, dubbed by the US Open as one of the greatest duels of the year featuring the world’s “future,” with both Eala and Jovic refusing to fold in every serve, return and rally that drew oohs and aahs from the 23,771-seat arena at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

When the smoke cleared, Eala’s hopes were flushed – inches away from glory amid the biggest expectations of her young career so far: highest world ranking ever at No. 18, highest Grand Slam seeding in history at No. 17, and a slew of features from the New York Times, Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and New York Magazine, among others.

Crowd silenced

And for a rare time in her blooming career, tears fell from the usually fierce, resolute Filipina.

Clad in a custom blue Nike kit in honor of the Philippine flag, Eala – palms on her teary face while carrying two duffel bags on both shoulders – exited the tunnel of a venue that had been filled by her compatriots who rallied behind her in the first two rounds and in every city she had been to this year.

Gone with her exit was a chance to solve the Jovic puzzle. The American now holds a compelling 3-0 head-to-head lead on all surfaces after beating her at the French Open (clay), 6-4, 6-2; Queen’s Club (grass), 6-2, 6-2; and now on the hardcourt of the Big Apple.

Eala, who had won 10 of her last 12 hardcourt matches entering the match, fell short of replicating her Round-of-16 finish at Wimbledon. Still, it surpassed her second-round showing last year when she made her US Open main-draw debut, and was a massive improvement from first-round exits at the Australian Open and French Open, where she also bowed to Jovic.