Alex Eala did not win today, but she left Cincinnati the way she played it, fighting to the last point. The Philippines’ rising tennis star fell to world No. 10 Amanda Anisimova in the Cincinnati Open round of 32, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, in a three set battle that had her holding a set and a lead before the American mounted a comeback.
A one set lead that slipped away
Eala came out sharp and took the first set, then pushed ahead again in the decider, briefly leading 2-0, before she lost the lead and the match slipped away. Anisimova, the ninth seed and a hard-hitting player, rallied to take the final set 6-2 and move on to the round of 16, where she will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
A first career meeting that delivered a thriller, even if the result was not the one Manila was hoping for.
The loss snaps the momentum Eala had been building, including a win streak against top 10 opponents that Anisimova ended, and she leaves the tournament at the round of 32 stage.
Praise from the winner
Anisimova had nothing but respect afterward, calling Eala a true fighter and a great player. That is the kind of recognition that matters even in defeat, a sign the 21 year old is not just beating lower ranked opponents, but going toe to toe with the world’s best and earning their praise.
What it means going forward
The numbers still tell a strong story. Eala came into Cincinnati at a career high No. 18 in the live WTA rankings, having already won the DC Open earlier this year and beaten a string of elite opponents. A round of 32 exit at a WTA 1000 event is a setback, but against a top 10 player after taking a set, it is hardly a stumble. For a full look at how she got here, the DC Open title run is the proof her rise is real, and the fight she showed in Cincinnati suggests she is far from done.
