Alex Eala’s impressive streak against top-10 opposition came to an end at the Cincinnati Open after World No. 10 Amanda Anisimova mounted a fierce comeback to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Energized by a vocal partisan crowd, Eala struck first in a grueling, physical opening set. Digging deep during key baseline exchanges, the Filipina phenom claimed the opener 6-4 to put the top-10 star on high alert.
Anisimova responded with championship composure in the second set, leveling the match 6-4 by raising her aggressive groundstroke play.
The deciding set initially favored Eala, who jumped out to a promising 2-0 lead. However, Anisimova found another gear, unleashing a blistering six-game run to shut the door on Eala’s upset bid and seal the final set 6-2.
Despite the tough loss, Eala’s deep run against elite talent serves as a powerful launching pad as she rests and resets her sights on the upcoming U.S. Open.