Alex Eala withdraws from Cincinnati Open due to injury

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala withdrew from the upcoming Cincinnati Open after suffering a shoulder injury announced on July 30, 2025.

After a Round of 128 exit at the National Bank Open three days ago, Eala will undergo a much-needed rest and will receive further assessment regarding her shoulder injury.

Eala and her team are yet to comment on the announced update first confirmed by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

The prestigious tennis tourney in Cincinnati will be held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason from August 5 to August 18, 2025.

Eala had already prepared on redeeming herself in Cincinnati, but the unexpected turn of events forced her from being a player to a spectator.

With her surprising injury, it is yet to be determined if she will be at 100% when the US Open Grand Slam tournament begins on August 24, 2025.

Worst case scenario if Eala can’t participate if the injury won’t heal in their desired timetable, as the Filipina and her training camp are nearing their intensive sessions for the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Eala had a lasting impression during her last Grand Slam stop at Wimbledon, where she nearly dethroned the defending champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Locked in with the approach of killing the first ball in her returns, Eala’s offensive mentality paid off dividends as she left no crumbs, sending a barrage of ground stroke winners that Krejcikova had no answers to.

Frustrated after trailing early, Krejcikova shifted her approach at the start of the second and didn’t force a lot of issues by reacting to whatever Eala is throwing at her.

That decision steered the defending champion to a better shot selection, and later on amped up the pressure when she turned into the aggressor in the baseline exchanges.

Despite a tough challenge from Eala, Krejcikova still pulled off the win and ended the match with a backhand winner to march to the next round of the Wimbledon tournament.

Can Eala shake off her shoulder injury for another shot at a Grand Slam trophy?