Headline
Friendship on hold as Eala, Jovic face off for a cause at Stars of the Open
Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 14, 2026
Photo courtesy: Olympics.com/Hannah Peters
Alex Eala will set aside her friendship with American player Iva Jovic when the two face each other at Stars of the Open, an annual charity exhibition held during the US Open’s Fan Week, on Aug. 27 in New York.
The matchup between the two rising players is part of a four-match lineup that also brings together Americans Amanda Anisimova, Alex Michelsen, and Learner Tien, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, and France’s Arthur Fils.
The event is run under the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Foundation, with a share of ticket sales going toward tennis and education programs for underserved communities.
Eala and Jovic, who have teamed up as doubles partners in the past, are also set to compete in this week’s WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio.
The two have met twice before on court, with Jovic coming away with the win both times, at the French Open and the HSBC Championships.
