ALEXANDRA “Alex” Eala dominated Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 6-1, 3-0 (ret.), early Sunday in Manila to enter the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open third round.
Eala held a 6-1, 3-0 lead before play at the Tony Trabert Stadium 3 in Ohio was suspended due to an approaching lightning storm.
The match did not require resumption as Ruse retired due to a right foot injury, enabling Eala’s third-round entry.
Ruse had taken a medical timeout before play was suspended, getting her right foot treated.
Eala thus avenged her 6-3, 1-6, 4-6 loss to Ruse in the 2024 US Open third-round qualifiers.
“I think that I was playing well, I think I felt the ball good, was really focused and tried to keep myself in the zone; I think I did a good job of that,” Eala said in the post-match presser.
“Of course, nobody likes to finish a match with a retirement, first and foremost, I just want to wish Gabriela-Ruse a speedy recovery. Injuries aren’t fun, so I hope she recovers soon.”
Dropping the first game of the match, world No. 20 Eala made sure to dominate No. 77 Ruse for the rest of the way.
Post-match statistics reflected Eala’s dominance, with a 68 percent (23/34) success rate in service points won and 71 percent (20/28) in return.
In comparison, Ruse had 29 percent (8/28) only in service points won and 32 percent (11/34) in return.
Banking on her slow yet tricky serve, Eala held 4 of her 5 service games. Ruse did not win any.
Eala also broke all 5 of Ruse’s service games, while the Romanian broke the Filipino only once in 5 attempts.
Eala faces world No. 10 Amanda Anisimova in the third round (round of 32), likely Monday night in Manila.
