Alex Eala overcomes injury scare to eliminate McNally

CEBU, Philippines — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala survived an injury scare in the second set to oust American Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and reach the Round of 16 of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open on Saturday, August 8, at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Canada.

Eala was leading in the second set, 3-2, when she had her right ankle taped by a trainer during a medical timeout.

The world No.20 Eala was still on top 5-4 but McNally, who knocked out reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the second round, won three straight games to force a deciding third set, 7-5.

Eala opened the rubber match with a 2-0 advantage and managed to protect it the rest of the way to finish off McNally after two hours and 39 minutes.

“I’m okay. I think I survived that one, it was so tough,” said Eala, who has now won 10 of her past 11 matches since Wimbledon including against world No.3 Jessica Pegula of the United States to win her first WTA title at the Mubadala DC Open last week at the US capital.

“I want to thank Caty for a great match, and for being a great sport. It’s one of those matches that really could’ve gone either way. I think it was really down to details and a little bit of luck, so give her her flowers, guys. It was a really great match,” she added.

The 21-year-old pride of Quezon City next faces Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic, who fended off  McNally’s fellow countryman Taylor Townsend 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in a grueling battle that lasted three hours and 24 minutes. They will clash on Monday, August 10, for a place in the quarterfinals. — (FREEMAN)