A Season Like No Other
Alex Eala has been one of the most compelling stories in women's tennis this year, piling up victories at a jaw-dropping rate. The 21-year-old Filipino star won a Challenger title at the Birmingham Open on grass, reached the semifinals in Berlin, and made the fourth round at Wimbledon. She then claimed her first WTA title at the Washington Open before pushing deep into the Canadian Open draw.
That extraordinary stretch has brought Eala to world No. 18 after her Cincinnati Open win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who retired in the second set. But the numbers behind her success are starting to raise eyebrows: Eala has logged 57 matches in 2026, more than any other player on the WTA Tour. With a mixed doubles partnership alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime already booked at the US Open, plus an exhibition appearance scheduled for August 27 at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Iva Jovic, she could be playing essentially eight consecutive weeks of tennis if she reaches the second week at Flushing Meadows. Critics are calling it a significant scheduling misstep from the rising star.
Anisimova Relishing the Challenge
Waiting across the net in Cincinnati's third round is Amanda Anisimova, who dispatched Zeynep Sonmez in straight sets to set up a first-ever meeting with Eala. Despite the pair being separated by just eight spots in the live rankings, Anisimova sounded genuinely excited after her win, describing Eala as a player with incredible momentum and noting the match would likely draw a packed crowd.
Anisimova reached the Australian Open semifinals and the Dubai Tennis Championships semifinals this year, but her 2026 output of 18 wins trails Eala's 38 considerably. Still, she carries fresher legs into this matchup, having played only 28 matches compared to Eala's 57.
TennisDraw users have been closely tracking Eala's bracket potential heading into the US Open stretch.
