ALEXANDRA “ALEX” EALA’S amazing streak came to an abrupt end in Toronto.
After seven wins in a row, the Filipina sensation succumbed to ex-Olympic champion Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, 4-6, 0-6, and crashed out of play in the WTA 1000 National Bank Open Round of 16 at the packed Sobeys Stadium in Canada on Monday.
Ms. Eala was still in the fight after a close call in the opener but Ms. Bencic proved why she’s the world No. 14 for a reason, blowing the Filipina out of the water with a bagel to clinch a quarterfinal berth.
The 29-year-old Swiss ace needed only 73 minutes in a methodical win to dash Ms. Eala’s hopes and arrange a Last 8 duel against world No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States, who also made short work of No. 89 Alina Korneeva of Russia, 6-3, 6-1.
Ms. Bencic, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and 10-time WTA champion, in the process silenced a roaring Filipino crowd — including a superfan dressed as a raptor in reference to Toronto’s NBA team — behind Ms. Eala’s campaign since the Washington D.C. title conquest and in the first two rounds in Toronto.
The pro-Eala crowd, gracious in defeat, showered Ms. Bencic with cheers in the post-game. And for that, she’s grateful and honored.
“I know most of you guys were cheering for Alex but I still have to say it was very nice for me to play in front of you all. Thank you so much for the great crowd tonight,” beamed Ms. Bencic, who was an apparent slayer of left-handed players in the WTA Tour.
Ms. Eala was the 10th leftie player that Ms. Bencic, a right-handed Swiss knife, has beaten since 2024 according to the WTA. It’s also her third straight quarterfinal berth in the Canadian Open on top of her 18th overall win there, the most for her in any WTA 1000 events.
That dominance and caliber was on full display against Ms. Eala as Ms. Bencic was unforgiving on all fronts with a 72% conversion on first serves (50% on second serve) and 53% on returns with only two double faults. Ms. Eala struggled all game long with 46% on first serves (35% on second) and just 27% on returns plus three double faults and a boatload of errors.
“I feel like it can’t be coincidental. It’s weird for me as well because I really hate playing lefties and it’s just not comfortable,” the surprised veteran said.
“But maybe I feel like it because I have good timing. I’m kind of able to switch. That’s the only thing I can think of because I really don’t like playing them.”
For Ms. Eala, all’s not lost after recording the longest streak of her career from the US capital to Canada’s business acropolis. It was also the longest active streak among all players in the WTA Tour before Ms. Bencic ended it for good.
“It’s a tough one. Belinda put me in really tough situations. She played really well. But overall, it was really a good week for me,” said Ms. Eala, whose tank seemed to be empty after barely surviving an ankle injury in a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over No. 70 Caty McNally of the United States in the Round of 32. “I’m super happy with the run that I’ve had. I’m going to try to recover and come back out hot.”
That win followed up her 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 Round of 64 win against No. 71 Alycia Park of USA after gaining a first-round bye. Before that, she notched five straight wins against a Paris Olympic champion, reigning champion, WTA Tour finals champion, four-time Grand Slam champion, and 11-time WTA champion in succession to rule the Mubadala DC Open for her maiden WTA Tour title.
Now, it’s time to heal, recover and recharge before plunging back to play in the Cincinnati Open back in the US, also a WTA 1000 tilt, starting on Thursday as her final buildup for the US Open on Aug. 30 to Sept. 13 in Flushing Meadows, New York.
But first things first for Ms. Eala and that’s to freshen up with a new haircut and nails on top of enjoying her Toronto stay with the Filipino community for a short celebration — things that she had no time to do in a quick transition from D.C.
“It’s been an amazing debut in Toronto. I’m super grateful for the experience that I’ve had here. I’ll carry these memories with me for a really long time. I will take maybe two days off and then, I’ll be back,” Ms. Eala vowed. — John Bryan Ulanday