The keenly anticipated third-round clash between friends and rising stars Alex Eala and Iva Jovic will be played on the US Open center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sunday’s marquee match is expected to fill the world’s largest tennis stadium to the brim, just like when the two drew a packed crowd during the “Stars of the Open” exhibition, which headlined US Open Fan Week recently.
Both Eala and Jovic–sometimes doubles partners–are playing their first official match in Ashe, which has a seating capacity of 23,771.
Eala is 0-2 against Jovic, with both of their previous encounters played earlier this season.
The 21-year-old Eala was swept by Jovic, 6-4, 6-2, in the first round of the French Open on May 26. She also lost in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in their second meeting less than a month later in the round of 16 at the Queen’s Club.
The Filipino World No. 18 rolled past American qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, to open her campaign in Flushing Meadows and turned back Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova, 6-1, 6-4, in the second round on Friday.
Eala’s first two matches took place at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the second-biggest venue in the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center.
Jovic, the 18-year-old American who has risen to 14th in the WTA rankings, has also yet to drop a set, but her first two matches were far from easy.
She had to fend off the much more experienced Polish player Magdalena Frech, 7-5, 6-3, in her opening assignment at Grandstand before defeating British qualifier Francesca Jones at Stadium 17