Alex Eala was unable to cause yet another WTA Tour upset on Monday evening.
The young Filipina, who recently won her first WTA Tour title in Washington, established a one-set lead over Amanda Anisimova in the Cincinnati Open third round.
Eala was unable to capitalise on her advantage, losing the next two sets 4-6, 2-6.
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
While the defeat will most certainly sting, Eala should not feel too disappointed following a stellar North American campaign in the lead-up to the US Open.
There are plenty of reasons why Eala should still feel confident following her defeat on Monday.
Alex Eala was competitive against a high-ranking player once again
Alex Eala went toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful ball strikers on the WTA circuit.
The youngster was rarely outplayed during the contest: a testament to her excellent counter-punching and first-strike tennis.
Time and again, Eala has proven that she can mix it with the best on the WTA Tour, as evidenced by her victories against Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Jasmine Paolini.
Monday’s contest was no different, despite the result.
Alex Eala was competitive, despite her first-serve struggles
Eala landed only 58 per cent of her first serves during Monday’s contest. She also won only 58 per cent of those points.
Yet, she was a competitive force throughout the third-round match.
Once again, Eala has proven that her serve is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to her individual success on the WTA Tour.
The Filipina is more than capable of holding her own from the back of the court and is unafraid to utilise her exemplary net game when appropriate.
Of course, improvements need to be made to Eala’s serve if she wishes to challenge for major titles in the future.
If those improvements are indeed made, the Filipina will be a force to be reckoned with on the WTA circuit.
| Statistical Area | Amanda Anisimova | Alex Eala |
| Aces | 3 | 0 |
| Double faults | 7 | 7 |
| First-serve % | 61 | 58 |
| First-serve points won [%] | 67 | 58 |
| Second-serve points won [%] | 50 | 46 |
Alex Eala performed at a good level despite more balanced fan support
By now, Eala must be used to competing in raucous, partisan atmospheres wherever she competes.
After all, she is now one of the most popular players on the WTA Tour and an individual who attracts large fan support.
Are Alex Eala’s fans good for tennis or do they need to behave better?
They have received some backlash for their behaviour during some of her recent matches…
However, on Monday night, the support within the Lindner Family Tennis Center court was more balanced; understandably so when considering Anisimova’s nationality.
“There was quite a bit of support for me tonight, so I really appreciate that, because I know how loved Alex is. And for good reason,” Anisimova stated during her post-match interview.
Eala has now proven that she is a player who can perform at a high level without the element of raucous fan support.
