Alex Eala is doing something remarkable right now, and she is the first to admit it is not easy. The Filipino star extended her winning streak to seven consecutive matches by defeating Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 at the Canadian Open in Toronto, booking a round-of-16 spot against 12th seed Belinda Bencic in the process.
The victory came just days after Eala claimed her first-ever WTA Tour title at the Washington DC Open, and her momentum has carried over to this WTA 1000 event in impressive fashion. She had already needed three sets to get past Alycia Parks in the opening round, so McNally gave her yet another stern test in what was another physically and emotionally demanding evening.
Speaking to the media after the match, Eala was candid about the weight she is carrying. She described the past two weeks as extraordinarily challenging, not just physically but emotionally, saying she is "feeling the effects of just everything" that has unfolded since her Washington triumph. The 19-year-old acknowledged experiencing emotions "extremely" throughout this stretch, attributing it partly to her sentimental nature and the unique circumstances surrounding her breakthrough.
When asked how she kept composure during early deficits within games, Eala explained her approach with admirable clarity. She focused on controllable factors rather than external noise, concentrating on executing each point better than the one before.
McNally, known for her fighting spirit, made Eala work hard for every service hold in a tight second set, but the Filipino steadied herself in the decider to pull through. Next up is Bencic, a former Olympic champion and seasoned hard-court performer, which will test Eala's endurance even further.
TennisDraw users who backed Eala on her current hot streak will be watching her third-round showdown with great anticipation.
