Joselito Malig

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot to Caty McNally of the United States during day six of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario.   Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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WTA 1000 National Bank Open Presented by Rogers 2026 - Day 6

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786809679622yRogers2026D.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP/file photo </div>Filipina tennis star Alex Eala was in full control of her Cincinnati Open second-round match against Romania&#x27;s Elena-Gabriela Ruse before play was suspended, having taken the first set 6-1 and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second.Eala came out aggressively from the start. After Ruse dropped a 30-0 lead—including a double fault at 15-30—Eala ripped a forehand winner to earn a break point and level at 1-1. She then held comfortably with ultra-aggressive ball striking to move ahead, 2-1.The sweltering humidity sitting at 80 percent did nothing to slow Eala down. She attacked Ruse’s second serve from about two feet inside the baseline, ripping forehand return winners to break for 3-1. She continued to pull away to 4-1, then 5-1, hitting with confidence, precision, and rhythm.Eala closed out the first set 6-1, winning five consecutive games.The second set followed the same pattern as Eala jumped to a 3-0 lead before the match was suspended for safety due to lightning.The 28-year-old Romanian, ranked world No. 74, had no answers for Eala’s pace and precision throughout the opener.Should Eala complete the win, she will face the winner of the match between eighth seed Amanda Anisimova and Zeynep Sonmez, with Anisimova leading 6-2, 3-2 at the time of the suspension.<div>More details to follow.</div><div> </div>

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala was in full control of her Cincinnati Open second-round match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse before play was suspended, having taken the first set 6-1 and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala was in full control of her Cincinnati Open second-round match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse before play was suspended, having taken the first set 6-1 and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second.

Alex Eala dominates Ruse, leads 2nd set before Cincinnati match suspended

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Alex Eala dominates Ruse, leads 2nd set before Cincinnati match suspended

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 16, 2026 12:26 AM PHT

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Updated August 16, 2026 12:30 AM PHT

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Alex Eala

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