Eala to face world No. 10 Anisimova in Cincinnati Open third round

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 17, 2026

Photo courtesy: PNA/Amanda Anisimova Facebook Page

MASON, Ohio — Filipino tennis star Alex Eala advanced to the third round of the Cincinnati Open after her opponent retired due to injury, setting up a first-ever meeting with American world No. 10 Amanda Anisimova later Monday night, Manila time.

Eala, the tournament’s 17th seed, was leading Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-1, 3-0 when Ruse withdrew from the match citing a right foot injury.

The win moves the 21-year-old Filipino into a third-round matchup against ninth-seeded Anisimova, who defeated Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the tournament to reach the same stage.

A rising season for Eala

Eala arrives at the matchup in the middle of a breakout stretch of her career. Two weeks ago, she won her first WTA Tour title at the DC Open, defeating world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the final. She has beaten seven top-10 players so far this season.

The Cincinnati Open marks her second consecutive WTA 1000 tournament during her North American swing, following a round-of-16 exit at the Canadian Open.

Anisimova’s credentials

Anisimova, 24, is a four-time WTA titlist who was a runner-up at both the US Open and Wimbledon last year. She won two WTA 1000 titles last season, at the Qatar Open and the China Open, and reached the quarterfinals of this year’s Australian Open.

A former world No. 3, Anisimova first drew attention on tour in 2019, when she became the youngest French Open semifinalist at age 17.

Monday’s match will be the first career meeting between the two players. A win for Eala would extend her run of upsets against top-10 opposition this season and mark her deepest run yet in a WTA 1000 event outside of Washington.