Alex Eala fights through pain, reaches Toronto round of 16

By: Abi Sarabia M.

Alex Eala overcame an ankle scare and a resilient Caty McNally to advance to the round of 16 in Toronto.

Toronto, Canada — Alex Eala survived a tense battle with American Caty McNally and an ankle injury scare to advance to the round of 16 of the National Bank Open in Toronto, extending her remarkable run just a week after her breakthrough title win in Washington.

Eala came through 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a match that stretched nearly three hours at Sobeys Stadium on Friday (Saturday, Manila time), needing to dig in against a determined McNally who pushed the contest to a decisive third set. Midway through the second set, Eala had her right ankle taped after appearing to tweak it, but removed the tape later in the match and pushed through to close out the win.

Throughout the encounter, Eala drew loud, sustained support from the crowd — a scene that has become increasingly familiar as her profile has surged following her maiden WTA Tour title in Washington the previous week. Speaking afterward, an emotional Eala described the stretch of matches as an intense emotional experience, saying playing in front of supportive crowds has kept her motivated through the grind of back-to-back tournaments.

The scale of support following Eala has drawn attention beyond her own matches. Jessica Pegula, the world number three she defeated in the Washington final, previously credited Eala with bringing a new wave of fans into the sport. In Toronto, that following has translated into food vendors selling Filipino dishes near the venue and Philippine flags filling the stands whenever she takes the court. National Bank Open tournament director Karl Hale has likewise praised Eala’s impact on the event, which sold out its 10,000-seat stadium almost as soon as her schedule was confirmed.

Despite the growing attention, Eala has kept a grounded outlook. After Friday’s win, she recalled a moment from the crowd that stuck with her: someone had told her they wanted to be Filipino for the night, which she said reminded her of a similar feeling she once had at a concert. She spoke warmly of the welcome she has received from Canadian fans, adding that she hoped Filipinos would “get that feeling of hospitality” in return.

Eala will next face 12th-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in the round of 16, in what will be their first tour-level meeting.

We’re proud of you, Alex!