Eala sets up Cincinnati Open duel with World No. 10 Anisimova

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Another top 10 WTA star stands in Alex Eala’s way.

After eliminating Elena-Gabriela Ruse to formalize her Round of 32 qualification, the 21-year-old Filipina ace is ready to take on World No. 10 WTA player Amanda Anisimova in the ongoing Cincinnati Open today at 8:30 a.m.

Fresh off a Round of 16 finish in Toronto and a historic Mubadala DC Open championship, Eala is having a stellar 2026 tournament campaign and will have the chance to sustain her momentum against Anisimova.

The former 2025 Wimbledon runner-up kicked off the Cincinnati Open with a sweeping win over Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3, and had three days to formulate a game plan against the tricky left-hander from the Philippines.

A well-known aggressive baseline power player, Anisimova’s game centers on relentless pressure to dictate rallies, bolstered by a two-handed flat backhand, her bread and butter since turning pro in 2016.

Anisimova doesn’t settle for long rallies and aims to win points in shorter windows to preserve more energy, as shown by how she dominated Sonmez in rallies of just four shots, which usually ended in backhand winners.

However, Anisimova’s strategy is make-or-break, which is why her game is still considered high-risk, high-reward. If she gets in the zone early, her offense could start to steamroll and haunt opponents. If the opposing player is able to keep her away from the baseline, it could be a different story.

For Eala, playing against someone with Anisimova’s style isn’t new.

As the 2026 tournament calendar progressed, Eala’s game also evolved, specifically in her shot selection, service game, and poise under pressure.

Unlike Anisimova, who has less patience in rallies, Eala likes to dissect her opponents in longer exchanges while reading their tendencies.

Anisimova prefers to dictate the pace and impose her strength, while Eala does a good job of absorbing the contact and using her opponent’s power to her advantage.

It will be an interesting clash of playing styles between the two WTA stars in a high-stakes showdown for a Round of 16 spot in Cincinnati.

Can Eala bank on her versatile shot-making and disciplined approach to neutralize Anisimova’s raw baseline groundstroke power?