Alex Eala faces World No. 10 Anisimova in Cincinnati Open 3rd round

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala battles world number 10 Amanda Anisimova in the third round of the Cincinnati Open late Monday night (Manila time) in Mason, Ohio.

Eala, seeded 17th, took a 6-1, 3-0 triumph over Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who retired in the second set due to a right foot injury.

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The Filipino star will face ninth seed Anisimova for the first time in her career.

The 24-year-old American is a four-time WTA titlist and a runner-up in both the US Open and Wimbledon last year. She captured a couple of WTA 1000 titles last season after winning the Qatar Open and China Open.

The former World No. 3 reached the quarterfinal of the Australian Open this season and became the youngest French Open semifinalist at 17 in 2019.

Anisimova trounced Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3, to set up a duel with crowd favorite Eala.

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Eala is playing her second straight WTA 1000 tournament in her North American swing, following a round of 16 exit in the Canadian Open.

The 21-year-old Eala, who claimed her first WTA Tour crown at the DC Open two weeks ago when she took down World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the final, has already beaten seven top-10 players this season.