Eala: Battered but ready

MANILA, Philippines — Another Olympic champion separates Alex Eala from a second straight WTA Tour quarterfinal berth.

Battered and all, Eala assures her readiness for the battle.

“I am as tired as one can be at this stage. You can imagine a lot of matches but that’s the job. I’m ready,” said Eala, who will go up against another titan in 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

Assuring that her right ankle is fine after a slight tweak in the Round of 32, the World No. 20 Eala locks horns with the World No. 14 Swiss at 8:10 a.m. today (Manila time) in their first meeting for a seat in the Last 8 of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.

Winner gets a shot at either World No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States or No. 89 Alina Korneeva of Russia.

Eala will come into the sellout Sobeys Stadium armed with all the momentum on her side, enjoying a seven-game winning streak. It’s the longest in the 21-year-old Filipina’s career and the longest active run among all players on the WTA Tour.

Not even an ankle problem, probably fatigue and a 10-time WTA champion awaiting her could scare Eala from extending her winning ways — especially in a situation that she has been in.

Back in Washington, D.C., Eala capped one of the greatest runs for a maiden WTA Tour title that included a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over 2024 Paris Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen of China. Along the way, she beat the reigning champion, a WTA Finals champion, a four-time Grand Slam champion and an 11-time WTA champion in succession.

“I have high hopes for the rest of the tournament. I’m super excited. It’s going to be the first time that I’m facing Belinda,” added Eala, who powered through injury in eking out a 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 escape act against WTA No. 70 Caty McNally of the USA in the Round of 32.

Eala landed her right foot badly after a forehand return in the second set up 3-2, prompting her to call a medical timeout. Though showing grit to move at match point, that minor injury resulted in her meltdown for a 5-7 loss in the set.

With the heart of a champion though and a boost from a predominantly Filipino crowd, Eala powered through behind a 3-1 start in the decider and repelled the repeated rallies of McNally, who came out swinging on the crest of a titanic upset over Wimbledon champion and World No. 7 Linda Noskova of Czechia.