MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala yielded to Swiss Belinda Bencic in the fourth round (round of 16), 4-6, 0-6, to exit the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto Monday morning in Manila.
World No. 20 Eala showed resistance especially in the first set where she held and broke Bencic's serve for a 4-4 tie, but the world No. 14 Swiss dictated the match from there.
Bencic broke back and held serve to take the first set, carrying the momentum into the second frame where she had Eala scrambling for balls and blasting winners in a variety of ways.
In the sixth game, Eala battled back from 0-40 and forced a deuce but the Filipino's return went outside on the next play before Bencic finished the match with a forehand cross.
Bencic faces Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.
