Alex Eala Falls to Amanda Anisimova in Cincinnati Open Thriller

Alex Eala’s remarkable run through the WTA hard-court season hit a snag on Monday night, as the Filipina star fell to ninth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a gripping third-round battle at the Cincinnati Open. The two-hour, 28-minute contest at P&G Center Court ended Eala’s five-match winning streak against top-10 opponents and ended her run in the WTA 1000 event.

How the Match Unfolded

The 21-year-old Eala, seeded 17th, came out firing in the opening set. After both players traded the first four games, the fifth game turned into an instant classic — a 20-minute, 11-second marathon featuring 13 deuces, with Eala fending off eight break points to grab a 3-2 lead. Anisimova briefly leveled things at 3-3, but Eala answered with a three-game surge to close out the set 6-4, capping it with a powerful backhand winner.

Set two followed a similar rhythm. Eala built another 3-2 advantage, but the world No. 10 dug in, winning four of the next five games to force a decisive third set.

In the decider, Eala opened strong, breaking serve behind back-to-back backhand winners to grab a 2-0 lead. But that’s where the momentum shifted for good. Anisimova’s heavy, flat serve began overwhelming Eala, and the American reeled off six straight games to close out the match, 6-2, sealing it with two unforced return errors from Eala on the final point.

What Amanda Anisimova Said After the Win Anisimova, who reached both the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2025, didn’t hide how demanding the match was — or how much respect she has for her opponent and Eala’s passionate fanbase.

“I know Alex is such a great player and such a fighter. I knew it was gonna be a really tough match,” Anisimova said in her on-court interview. She also acknowledged the crowd, much of which was cheering for Eala, joking that she needed “a pick-me-up” late at night to get over the finish line.

The win sends Anisimova into a Round of 16 showdown against reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

Eala’s Season Still One to Remember

Even with the loss, 2026 has been a breakout year for Eala. She:

                •             Won her maiden WTA singles title in Washington, becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA crown

                •             Climbed to a career-high ranking near world No. 18–20

                •             Built a 9-4 career record against top-10 players, with seven of those wins coming in 2026 alone

                •             Reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the third round at the Canadian Open

The Cincinnati defeat drops her top-10 record to 9-5, but her season resume remains one of the most impressive breakthrough runs on tour this year.

What’s Next for Alex Eala

Eala isn’t taking much time off. She’s already locked in for the US Open, where she’ll compete in the women’s singles main draw. She also picked up a mixed doubles wild card alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime for the year’s final Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows, giving fans another chance to see the Filipina star in action very soon.