Filipina tennis phenom Alex Eala is set to put her personal friendship with American player Iva Jovic on hold when the two compete in the Stars of the Open exhibition event scheduled for August 27 in New York.
The exhibition is held annually as part of the US Open Fan Week, serving as a charity showcase designed to highlight top young talent in international tennis.
Eala and Jovic join a roster of eight rising young players selected for the four-match singles program. The event lineup features:
- Amanda Anisimova, Alex Michelsen, and Learner Tien (United States)
- Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine)
- Joao Fonseca (Brazil)
- Arthur Fils (France)
Organized in partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Foundation, the showcase will direct a portion of its ticket revenues to fund educational and tennis development initiatives for under-resourced youth.
Beyond their upcoming exhibition clash, Eala and Jovic share a history as periodic doubles partners and are both set to compete in this week’s WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio.
In singles play, Jovic holds a 2–0 head-to-head advantage over Eala, having claimed victories in both of their previous professional encounters at Roland Garros and the HSBC Championships.