IGA SWIATEK twice, Elina Svitolina twice, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula.
Nine wins against Top 10 players in her young career and Alexandra “Alex” Eala is not done yet, eyeing to add world No. 10 Amanda Anisimova of the United States to her growing kill list when they dispute a Round of 16 ticket in the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open on Tuesday.
Pending delays like her previous match due to inclement weather, the giant-slayer Ms. Eala — who is the No. 17 seed as her highest in any 1000-level tour — and the No. 9 seed home bet tangle at 8:30 a.m. (Manila time) at the Stadium Court of the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Both aces will march on the battle riding on emphatic wins in the second round after gaining first-round byes as top seeds.
In her Ohio debut, Ms. Eala avenged her 2024 US Open qualifying loss to No. 74 Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania with 6-1, 3-0 (ret.) win after the latter retired in the second of the rain-delayed match due to a foot injury. Ms. Anisimova then followed suit by drubbing Ms. Eala’s good friend, No. 50 Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, with a 6-2, 6-3 win.
Ms. Eala’s win pushed her from No. 20 to a new-career best ranking of No. 18 in the WTA live rankings, although official updates have not been released yet with a pretty chance now to climb even higher.
Also at stake is a Round 4 seat against either world No. 8 and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova of Czechia or No. 42 Clara Tauson of Denmark, whom Ms. Eala beat in her US Open main draw debut last year.
It will be the first encounter between the two stars but Ms. Eala definitely has been in a similar situation before with a boatload of wins against Top 10 players, including seven alone this season. She’s 9-4 overall against the titans in her career.
Her latest conquest was world No. 3 Ms. Pegula, eking out a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 comeback win in the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open in Washington D.C. earlier this month for her first WTA Tour title.
Could another American be the next big fish to fry for the 21-year-old Filipina gauntlet?
The Filipina pride hopes so — and will try to the best of her power buoyed by another roaring Filipino crowd that Ms. Anisimova is out to neutralize.
“I’m really happy with my debut but I’ve always focused on the next thing,” said the charged-up Ms. Eala after a full week of rest from Round of 16 finish in the WTA National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada, hoping to stand her ground against Ms. Anisimova with a slew of experiences.
While Ms. Eala has a lone crown so far with a Round of 16 finish being her best one in Grand Slams, Ms. Anisimova, with a career-high ranking of No. 3, has four WTA titles and two Grand Slams finals appearances at 24 years old.
Both were US Open girls’ champions with Ms. Anisimova winning it in 2017 and Ms. Eala in 2022.
Now they collide in the pros as part of their final buildup for the US Open on Aug. 30 to Sept. 13 in Flushing Meadows, New York.
“She’s a great player with a lot of fans so I’m really looking forward to that. It will be fun,” beamed Ms. Anisimova. — John Bryan Ulanday