Alex Eala’s Toronto run ends in fourth round loss to Bencic

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 11, 2026

Photo courtesy: PNA

Toronto, Canada – Filipina tennis player Alex Eala’s run at the National Bank Open in Toronto came to an end on Monday, August 10, after a fourth-round loss to former champion Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, 6-4, 0-6.

Eala, who entered the tournament as the 25th seed, held her own against Bencic through much of the first set. The two traded games evenly, reaching a 4-4 deadlock before 

Bencic managed to break through and close out the set. Bencic, who won the Toronto title back in 2015, then took control in the second set, closing out the match without dropping another game.

The result brought an end to what had otherwise been a strong outing for Eala in Canada. She had come into the tournament playing some of the best tennis of her young career, and her performance against Bencic showed she was able to compete with an experienced, Grand Slam-level opponent, even if she wasn’t able to close out the win.

Eala had also played a heavy schedule of matches in the lead-up to the fourth round, and that workload appeared to catch up with her in the second set, where her level dropped off noticeably compared to the first.

Despite the loss, the tournament run adds to what has already been a breakthrough stretch for Eala. She arrived in Toronto on a seven-match winning streak, a run that included her first WTA Tour title, won just the week before at the Mubadala DC Open. That win marked a major milestone in her career and put her among the players to watch on tour this season.

With her ranking continuing to climb and a series of strong results behind her, Eala now heads into the remainder of the season with plenty of momentum, even with the early exit in Toronto. 

Her run through Canada is likely to be seen as another step forward in a season that has already included some of the biggest results of her career so far.