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Alexandra Eala relishing 'full circle moment' with Rafael Nadal's uncle and former coach, Toni, as huge US Open clash with Iva Jovic beckons By Leon Imber React to this story Alexandra Eala has reached the US Open third round for the first time in her blossoming career, and the Filipina sensation is enjoying a "full circle moment" with Toni Nadal, the uncle and former coach of Rafael who is part of her entourage. A member of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Majorca, Eala has shared a long-term working relationship with Toni, who previously coached Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime. While Joan Bosch remains Eala's primary coach, the 21-year-old has been working with Toni at Flushing Meadows, where she has impressed with straight-sets victories over Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova. Eala achieved her best-ever Grand Slam finish when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in the summer and, by following that up with another strong run at the US Open, the world No. 18 is enjoying life at the top end of the tour with the people who helped her get there. "Toni, I’ve been working with for a really long time because I train at the Rafa Nadal academy," Eala said in a press conference. "It’s funny, when I was on court with Toni here, it’s a full circle moment, because the first times I was on court with Toni was in the academy, and now I’m good enough that he can see me at the US Open, same goes with my coaches. "The people are a huge part of the journey and I’m happy to be able to experience tennis at the highest level with them." In one of the picks of the third-round matches, Eala will face Iva Jovic - another new breakout star on the women's circuit with whom she shares a strong off-court relationship. Eala and Jovic have faced off twice this year, the latter winning both in the first round of the French Open and later at Queen's, meaning this will be the first time they have met on a hard court. And Eala was keen to credit her upcoming opponent and the other players she is friends with. "The sisterhood, having friends on tour, has helped me so much," Eala said. "Off the court, on the court, the friends I have I really admire. What they’ve been through and what they go for. "Iva, she’s an amazing player, young, very talented, and very intelligent. She’s a higher-ranked player, very accomplished and I’ve encountered my fair share of challenges against her this year. "It’s not under my control who I play, I have to give my best and try everything I can to win." - Why Kyrgios can make immediate comeback after positive cocaine test - How 'growing up watching Serena' shaped Gauff's outlook on Grand Slams and world rankings - Jovic 'super happy' to have Djokovic in her corner - 'A GOAT is always a GOAT' Eala has garnered significant, passionate support in all corners of the world while travelling on the tennis tour, and was again backed by a vocal contingent of fans from her home country on Tuesday as she beat Oliynykova 6-1 6-4 in a little over an hour. A blistering opening set saw Eala clinically break all three of her Ukrainian opponent's service games, while only passing up one of her own, taking the first set in just over 20 minutes. A more competitive second set saw both players hold until Eala gained back-to-back breaks - though she dropped her own serve in between before serving out her second match point for the victory. Jovic, who beat Britain's Fran Jones in straight sets, said she is "super excited" to be taking on Eala. "The atmosphere is going to be amazing," Jovic said. "She’s been playing some great tennis. It’s nice to be playing each other third round, deeper into the Slam. Hopefully we can all keep going on runs like this." Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this. Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2027 Australian Open and 2027 French Open, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max Related Topics