FILIPINO tennis ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala will open her campaign at the Cincinnati Open against Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse on Saturday (Manila time) at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Eala, ranked No. 20 in the world but seeded No. 17 in the tournament, received a first-round bye and will take on world No. 77 Ruse in the round of 64.
Ruse won against Magda Linette of Poland, 6-0, 6-3, on Friday.
This is the second time that Eala and Ruse will face each other. They first met in the 2024 US Open where Ruse prevailed three sets, 3-6, 6-1, 4-6.
The left-handed Eala has improved her game since then and is looking to exact revenge against the 28-year-old Ruse on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Eala claimed her first ever Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour 500 title at the Washington Open on Aug. 4 but bowed to Belinda Bencic in the round of 16 at the Canadian Open on Aug. 10.
Both Eala and Ruse are known for their ability to mount comebacks.
The Romanian showed that quality on Aug. 4 at the National Bank Open when she rallied from a 0-4 deficit in the second set to defeat American Peyton Stearns, 6-0, 7-5.
Making her debut in the Cincinnati Open, Eala was asked during the press conference what the essence of being Filipino is, knowing she can draw a crowd wherever she goes.
“Keep in mind that no culture can be summed up in just a couple of words. Filipino culture, and every culture in general, is very layered; it’s very layered. So when we say Filipino culture, it's family, community, hospitality, love and kindness,” she said.
“I think I just kind of go with the flow. I think at the end of the day, it’s the same lines, same size of the ball. So, I guess, of course, the crowd brings different energy, but when you’re on court, nothing changes as much,” said Eala.
The Cincinnati Open is the third largest tennis event in the United States behind the US Open and the Miami Open.
