MASON, Ohio – Alex Eala didn’t just win. She settled the score.
The Filipina ace exorcised the ghost of her 2024 US Open qualifying loss to Elena-Gabriela Ruse with a ruthless 6-1, 3-0 (ret.) demolition to storm into Round 3 of the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open yesterday morning at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Eala, ranked No. 20 in the world and seeded a career-high No. 17 in a WTA 1000 event after a first-round bye, needed only 57 minutes to make her presence felt.
After dropping serve in the opening game, Eala found another gear, reeling off six straight games to take the first set. She was up 3-0 in the second when play was suspended due to a lightning warning. Upon resumption, Ruse, who had taken a medical timeout for a foot injury earlier in the set, opted to retire.
“First and foremost, I just wish Gabby a speedy recovery. Health is the No. 1 priority for everybody so I hope she gets better soon,” said Eala, who avenged her 6-3, 1-6, 4-6 loss to the World No. 74 Ruse two years ago.
“I think I played really well. I found my groove early and I was able to hold that until the end of the match. I’m really happy with my debut.”
It was a statement start to her final build-up for the US Open in Flushing Meadows later this month. Eala arrived in Cincinnati fresh after almost a week of rest following a Round of 16 finish at the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto.
The 21-year-old also credited the roaring Filipino crowd that has followed her across the tour.
“It was an incredible atmosphere. It was so fun. This is my first time here so I didn’t know what to expect. I’m really happy with it,”said Eala, who celebrated the run with her parents, who were in attendance for their wedding anniversary and her father’s birthday.
Next up is a heavyweight test – a first-ever meeting with World No. 10 and No. 9 seed Amanda Anisimova. The 24-year-old American advanced after dispatching Eala’s good friend Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, World No. 50, 6-2, 6-3.
“I haven’t played Eala before and she’s been having such an incredible season, incredible year. Very great player with a lot of fans. I’m really looking forward to that. I know that it’s probably gonna be a very packed stadium. I’m sure it will be really fun,” Anisimova said.