Alex Eala falls to Amanda Anisimova in Cincinnati Open Round of 32

Alex Eala’s Cincinnati Open campaign came to an end after she fell to world No. 10 Amanda Anisimova in the Round of 32 on Tuesday, August 18.

The ninth-seeded American defeated Eala, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, to advance to the Round of 16 of the WTA 1000 tournament.

The match marked the first meeting between Eala and Anisimova, with the Filipina entering the contest ranked No. 20 in the world.

Eala drew first blood in the closely fought matchup, securing the opening set 6-4 after more than an hour on court. The Filipina kept her composure in the crucial points to take an early lead over the world No. 10.

Anisimova fought back in the second set, leveling the match at one set apiece after taking the frame 6-4.

The American player completed her comeback in the deciding set, beating Eala 6-2 to end the Filipina’s Cincinnati Open campaign in the Round of 32.

Eala reached the third round after Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired while trailing 6-1, 3-0 in their Round of 64 match due to an apparent injury.

Anisimova, meanwhile, booked her spot in the Round of 32 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez.

Despite the loss, Eala continues to build an impressive record against the world’s best players. The 21-year-old has already defeated several Top 10 opponents this season, including Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, Iga Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula. She also captured the Mubadala DC Open title after defeating Pegula in the final.

Eala’s Cincinnati Open exit comes during her North American hard-court swing, with the US Open set to begin later this month.

Anisimova advances to the Round of 16, where she will face Linda Noskova, who defeated 27th-seeded Clara Tauson, 7-6(7-3), 6-2.