MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala will face either Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Polish Magda Linette to start her campaign at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open in Ohio.
World No. 20 Eala is seeded No. 17 in the tournament where she skips the first round (round of 128) and begins her campaign in the second (round of 64)
She will face the winner between world No. 77 Ruse and No. 68 Linette who clash in the first round likely on Thursday.
Eala will tentatively begin her campaign on Friday in the round of 64.
Eala has faced Ruse and Linette already, holding a 0-1 head-to-head record against the Romanian and a 2-2 record against the Polish player.
Eala fell to Ruse at the 2024 US Open third round qualifiers, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6.
Meanwhile, Eala yielded to Linette in their first two encounters -- 0-6, 2-6, at the 2024 Abu Dhabi round of 32 and 4-6, 3-6 at the 2025 Nottingham Open round of 32.
The lefty netter won the last two: 6-3, 6-2 at the ASB Classic quarterfinal last January and 6–3, 7–6(2) at the Miami Open round of 32 last March.
