Alexandra Eala continues her winning ways in the National Bank Open, dispatching American world No. 70 Caty McNally, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, Saturday, Philippine time, in the Round of 32 of the WTA 1000 event in Toronto.
Backed once again by a boisterous Filipino crowd at center court, Eala recovered from a slow start that saw her trailing 1-3 against McNally in the opening set. She won five straight games to snatch the set win.
The Filipina netter carried the momentum into the second frame, took a 3-2 lead before calling for a medical timeout to attend to her left ankle. McNally took advantage of the situation and sent the match into a decider.
In the third set, Eala dominated and raced to an early 2-0 lead and pulled away for a 4-2 advantage. McNally attempted to inch closer by taking the next game, but Eala will not be denied, wrapping up the match after two hours and 39 minutes.
The victory was Eala’s seventh straight since the first round of the DC Open, where she won her first WTA Tour title.
World no. 20 Eala will next face Tokyo Olympics gold medalist and current world No. 14 Belinda Bencic of Sweden in the round of 16 slated on Monday, August 10 (Philippine time).
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