Novak Djokovic altered his schedule at the last moment before his opening US Open match, taking to Arthur Ashe Stadium for a hit shortly before facing Argentina’s Mariano Navone.

The opportunity emerged after Daniil Medvedev’s win over Hugo Gaston, which left a window on the main court at Flushing Meadows before the evening session. Djokovic took advantage of the break, and his appearance on the court so close to match time caught the attention of many observers.

At 39, Djokovic is still chasing his first Grand Slam title since his US Open triumph in 2023, as the pursuit of a record-breaking 25th major goes on. Even so, he has resisted being placed among the tournament’s main favourites, pointing to how late-stage Grand Slam runs have gone over the past three years.

His build-up has not been ideal. Djokovic lost his opening match at the Cincinnati Open against Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante, leaving him with limited preparation for New York. Still, he believes the break gave him valuable time to reset.

“I don’t like early losses anywhere, to be honest, but it gave me time to be prepared for US Open in a most adequate way,” he said.

“I had almost a few weeks, actually two weeks, to really train and get my body and mind into the right state, prepared for what’s coming up.

“So it remains to be seen. If you ask me if I’m prepared, I feel like I am as best as I can be, but it’s different, training [on the one hand] and then getting out on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing best-of-five.

“I’m excited and blessed to have another year to go out there and experience probably the most electric and fun night sessions we have in our sport.”

Djokovic also said he should not be seen as one of the leading contenders this year, naming Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton as players he thinks are better placed in New York.

“I think it’s Alcaraz, and I think the other guys, like Shelton, probably are in better shape than I am, but you never know,” said Djokovic.

“YI love playing Grand Slams, and I have proven throughout my career that I’m able to win it and get far in any tournament, even when it comes to Grand Slams, even when I haven’t had too many lead-up matches.

“I always like my chances, best of five, playing night sessions on Arthur Ashe Stadium, there’s nothing like it.”

Alex Eala’s growing profile is drawing rare attention in the buildup to the US Open, with her social media reach giving the wider tennis world a noticeable lift.

Heading into the final Grand Slam of 2026, Eala arrives with momentum and visibility after winning her first WTA Tour title in Washington last month, a result that reinforced her standing among the sport’s leading young players.

Talk has already begun about a possible fourth-round meeting with Coco Gauff, and although the Filipina has not yet moved beyond the last 16 at a major, the evidence around her popularity suggests she is already one of the biggest attractions in the women’s game.

Her exhibition match with Iva Jovic, posted on the official US Open account, has produced YouTube numbers that have far outstripped those of every other player by several times. Her appearance on the Andy Roddick Served podcast also surpassed one million views.

During that conversation, Roddick praised her influence and thanked Eala for ‘creating a movement’ that has lifted tennis across multiple levels.

The interest has not stopped there. Her press conference clips on different platforms have also generated more traction than those of any other player, while Greg Rusedski’s podcast has benefited from a sharp rise in subscribers and YouTube views over the past month.

Eala now carries the expectations that come with that level of attention, beginning with her opening match against American qualifier Mary Stoiana on Tuesday.

Speaking on his Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast, the former world No 4 looked ahead to her campaign and said, “Well, I think she’ll sell out [crowds] like she did in Toronto,” said the former world No 4.

He added, “I mean, how impressive was her result in Washington, the way she played? She was incredible.

“And then to bounce back and win two matches again; she won seven in a row and then lost in Toronto, she loses [in Cincinnati] to Anisimova in three sets — who last year made two major finals.

“So, she’s on the cusp. She’s the first Filipina to make the fourth round of a major, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s in the quarters or semis. She’s that good. I think the mentality is second to none.

“I look between the ears, having coached and worked on tour in the men’s and the women’s, the most important [thing], cause everybody can play, but it’s a swagger, it’s the belief, it’s in between the ears, it’s the intensity.

“She goes tick, tick, tick, tick, tick in all boxes. I mean, she must be a dream to work with, so as a coach and as somebody who watches, she is special, and I think she could have a deep run, and I would be surprised if she doesn’t get into the quarters. She’s that good.

“I think she loves the big stage, there’s certain players who love walking on Arthur Ashe Stadium, who like to play on the big stadiums, who want to be on the big stadiums.

“That’s what I feel with Eala — that she wants to be there, and she will get her success because of all the work she does.”

Eala is scheduled to begin her US Open run against Stoiana in the second match on Louis Armstrong Stadium court on Tuesday.

Alex Eala has learned where she will begin her 2026 US Open campaign, with her first-round match scheduled for Louis Armstrong Stadium after a prominent voice urged organisers to avoid a court-placement error.

The 21-year-old arrives in New York in the form of her career, carrying a 38-20 record for the season. Her North American hard-court swing began with a breakthrough run at the Washington Open, where she collected her first WTA Tour title.

Born in Quezon City, Eala has climbed to a career-best world No. 18 after winning 11 of her last 14 matches. That stretch began at Wimbledon, where she advanced to the fourth round, which remains her strongest Grand Slam showing so far.

Her growing profile has also been reflected in the support she receives from home, with large groups of compatriots backing her at different stops on the tour. Earlier in the week, Patrick McEnroe pressed the US Open to place her on the biggest stages.

“The USTA better make sure they put her on big courts,” the former French Open doubles champion told ESPN.

“In New York, I think the crowd is going to be wild for her. It’s going to be a great story. Better make sure they don’t put her on one of those side courts early in the tournament.”

Eala will open against 122nd-ranked American qualifier Mary Stoiana. Louis Armstrong Stadium, the tournament’s second-largest court, has a capacity of 14,000. Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main show court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, holds 23,771.

The Filipina is seeded 17th, her highest seeding at a Grand Slam. If she wins, she will meet either Oleksandra Oliynykova or Reese Brantmeier in round two.