Alex Eala through to Cincinnati Open third round as Ruse retires

FILE–Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates a point against United States’ Alycia Parks during a National Bank Open tennis match in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala hardly broke a sweat in advancing to the third round of the Cincinnati Open early Sunday (Manila time) in Mason, Ohio.

Eala reached the round of 32 of the WTA 1000 hardcourt tournament after Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired from the match due to a right foot injury during the rain suspension midway through the second set.

The World No. 20 Eala was dominating Ruse, 6-1, 3-0, when play was halted due to lightning as ominous clouds loomed over the packed Toney Trabert Stadium 3 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

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Eala will next face American World No. 10 and ninth seed Amanda Anisimova, who sent home Turkish rising star Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3.

“I haven’t played her (Eala) before. She’s been having such an incredible season, an incredible year. [A] very great player with a lot of fans, so I’m really looking forward to that,” said Anisimova during the post-match interview.

“I know that it’s probably going to be a very packed stadium, so I’m sure it will be really fun.”

Looking rejuvenated after a brief but much-needed rest following stints in Washington and Toronto, Eala posted her 11th win in 13 matches dating back to winning her first WTA Tour title at the DC Open two weeks ago.

Aside from a first-set blip, the 21-year-old Eala could do nothing wrong, frustrating Ruse with her tricky serves and big returns.

The Filipino baseliner broke Ruse thrice in the opening set and zoomed to a 3-0 double-break lead in the second before the Romanian received a medical timeout and had her right foot strapped up.