Alex Eala exits Cincinnati Open in Anisimova loss

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Alex Eala’s bid to advance in the Cincinnati Open ended after she sustained a Round of 32 loss at the hands of world No. 10 Amanda Anisimova, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, on Aug. 18, 2026.

After a grueling first-set win that raised her hopes of another massive upset against a top-10 WTA player, Anisimova responded with urgency in the final two sets as she outplayed Eala in a tactical baseline duel highlighted by a series of long deuces, break-point exchanges, and a clash between relentless power and defensive efficiency.

The 21-year-old Filipina ace immediately displayed her never-say-die attitude in the opening set, especially in the fourth game after a 20-minute marathon featuring 13 deuces that treated thousands of tennis fans to a classic showdown.

During the pivotal fourth game, Anisimova had seven break-point chances to end the thrilling 13-deuce slugfest. Still, Eala held her ground, regained her footing, and managed to escape the tight spot that could’ve put the American netter in a more favorable position.

Anisimova’s back-to-back errors put an end to the endurance session, which proved to be the turning point for Eala, who broke serve in the seventh and ninth games to move a set away from punching a Round of 16 ticket.

Just when the PHL bet thought that she had already figured Anisimova out, the former two-time Grand Slam finalist brought something new midway through the second set, adjusting well to Eala’s defensive speed by moving her around the court with a variety of baseline hitting patterns.

From her usual midcourt forehand that ended in a backhand return, Anisimova mixed things up by targeting Eala’s deep backhand corner, which set up her trademark backhand winners.

Aside from that adjustment, Anisimova also returned Eala’s second serves with more confidence and intent compared with her first-set outing, when she held back several times because of her unforced errors.

Anisimova’s comeback attempt was firmly on track after she scored a break in the sixth game, followed by a service hold for a 5-3 advantage.

Although Eala held serve to pull within a game, 5-4, Anisimova took matters into her own hands in the 10th game, closing it with a well-placed forehand winner to level the match at 1-all.

Eala went off to the races at the start of the third and deciding set, breaking Anisimova early to establish a commanding 2-0 lead.

However, the first eight minutes of the third set were the last positive stretch for Eala, as Anisimova dropped the hammer with a demoralizing six-game run, generated by three service breaks and three straight service holds.

It was all Anisimova as her brute baseline strength disrupted Eala’s hitting rhythm from the third game to the last, backed by occasional approaches to the net for some easy volley points.

After that exhausting fourth game in the opener, Eala was visibly gassed in the final game of the third set, failing to score a single point in the eighth game en route to an uncontested 6-2 victory for Anisimova.

Anisimova wrapped up the impressive Round of 32 comeback victory with 110 total points won, including five break points, three aces, and 54 points on return.

“I know Alex is such a great player and such a fighter, so I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Anisimova said of Eala after the win.

“I’m really proud of this performance for being able to find a way and kind of push myself there in the middle of the match. I was really happy with the way I was able to find my tennis and started fighting.”

Awaiting Anisimova in the Round of 16 is world No. 8 Linda Noskova, who earlier swept Clara Tauson, 7-6, 6-2.