Alex Eala’s red-hot run on the WTA Tour is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Filipina tennis sensation is through to the third round of the Cincinnati Open after Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse was forced to retire from their second-round match with an ankle injury, setting up another blockbuster battle for the surging 21-year-old.
Eala was already dominating the contest, leading 6-1, 3-0 at Tony Trabert Stadium 3 when Ruse could no longer continue.
And while the match ended earlier than expected, Eala had already sent a clear message: she came to Cincinnati ready to make another deep run.
Ruse survived a lengthy opening game, but that only seemed to fire up the No. 17 seed. Eala suddenly took over, winning six straight games to seal the first set in emphatic fashion, 6-1.
She carried that momentum into the second set and quickly built a 3-0 cushion as Ruse began showing signs of discomfort.
The Romanian called for a medical timeout and had her right ankle taped, before lightning and rain temporarily suspended the match with Eala ahead 30-0 in the fourth game.
When play eventually resumed, Ruse decided she could no longer continue.
Eala expressed sympathy for her opponent but was pleased with the level of tennis she produced.
“I think that I was playing well. I think I felt the ball good, was really focused and tried to keep myself in the zone. I think I did a good job of that,” Eala said.
She added that advancing through an opponent’s retirement was never the way she wanted to win.
“Of course, nobody likes to finish a match with a retirement. First and foremost, I just want to wish Gabriela-Ruse a speedy recovery, injuries aren’t fun, so I hope she recovers soon,” she said.
Now comes the real test
Eala’s next assignment could provide one of the biggest spectacles of the Cincinnati tournament.
Waiting in the third round is No. 9 seed Amanda Anisimova, who cruised past Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3.
That means another high-profile opponent stands between Eala and an even deeper run at the WTA 1000 event.
But considering the way the Filipina has been playing lately, few will want to count her out.
Eala entered Cincinnati fresh from reaching the fourth round of the Canadian Open and is still riding the momentum of her stunning championship run at the Mubadala DC Open.
There, she captured the biggest title of her career by defeating world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, in the final to secure her first WTA 500 crown.
She also lifted the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open trophy last year after rallying past Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Now another dangerous opponent awaits.
Can Eala take down Anisimova and keep her sensational run alive?
Cincinnati is about to find out.