By El Amigo
MANILA — Alex Eala may have fallen short of a quarterfinal berth at the National Bank Open, but the Filipina tennis star leaves Toronto with another major achievement under her belt.
Eala bowed to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, 6-4, 6-0, in the Round of 16 on Monday, ending her seven-match winning streak at the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament.
The 21-year-old Filipina battled Bencic in the opening set but could not sustain her challenge as the Swiss player pulled away to take it, 6-4.
Bencic then took command in the second set, winning six consecutive games to seal the match.
Despite the disappointing result, Eala’s Canadian Open campaign remains a significant milestone. She successfully reached the fourth round of one of the biggest tournaments on the WTA calendar and continued to show that she belongs among the world’s elite.
Her run also generated strong support from Filipino tennis fans, who followed her impressive campaign in Toronto.
With the Canadian Open now behind her, Eala can take the lessons from the tournament and prepare for the next stage of the season.
One loss cannot overshadow the progress she has made.
Toronto may have ended Eala’s winning streak, but it certainly did not end her rise.
elamigo/
