Eala holds nerve through ankle twist in Toronto
A frightening roll of the ankle in the second set tested the Filipina’s resolve, yet precise baseline adjustments and calm service holds carried her past a resilient McNally to keep the North American streak alive.
Alex Eala overcame a second-set ankle scare and a determined fightback from American Caty McNally to prevail 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and advance to the Round of 16 of the WTA Tour National Bank Open in Toronto on Friday.
Close Follow on X The 21-year-old Filipina arrived carrying a perfect record on the swing and the knowledge that every match now carried extra scrutiny from fans and ranking implications alike.
“I’m OK. Yeah, I think I survived that one. It was so tough.”
The opening set followed a jagged rhythm as both players traded early breaks before Eala settled into a pattern of heavy crosscourt pressure that forced McNally into defensive positions. Her 12-5 winner count reflected a clear tactical edge built on inside-out forehands that pinned the American behind the baseline.
Early breaks reward crosscourt pressure
McNally held for 3-1 yet Eala immediately shifted to wider crosscourt angles that pulled the American off the court and produced an immediate re-break. Once Eala consolidated the second break she varied depth on her second serve to set up one-two combinations that forced McNally into defensive slice. The American’s inability to find first-serve percentage on the faster court handed Eala the set at 6-3.
The victory marked her third straight win over an American opponent after her triumph over Jessica Pegula in the Mubadala DC Open final and her second-round victory against Alycia Parks in Toronto. That run improved the world No. 20 to 7-0 on the North American hard-court swing and lifted her ranking math ahead of the hard-court majors.
Medical timeout forces tactical shift
The pair each held comfortably at the start of the second set before three consecutive breaks after which Eala led 3-2. The Filipina then called for a medical timeout receiving treatment after she had rolled her ankle in the preceding game. The physical issue appeared to affect her immediately and McNally capitalized on Eala’s compromised movement to break to love in the sixth game.
Eala responded by shortening swing paths on her backhand slice to stay balanced on the compromised ankle. She broke back in the ninth game by targeting McNally’s weaker second serve once more yet the American won three straight games on returns to steal the set 7-5. The world No. 70 refused to fade and forced a decider.
Decider rewards steady service holds
Eala raced to a 2-0 advantage in the third set after a break in the first game and that advantage ultimately proved enough. She closed out the grueling contest in the tenth game after the remainder of the set had gone with service. The approach stayed pragmatic favoring percentage tennis over risky down-the-line attempts once the lead was established.
“I want to thank Caty for a great match being a great sport. It’s one of those matches that I really could have gone either way. I think it was really down to details and a little bit of luck.” The crowd noise rose with each hold feeding a loop of energy that helped mask lingering discomfort. Eala next faces No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic who defeated Taylor Townsend 6-7(5) 7-6(4) 6-4 in the third round.
She spoke of extreme emotions and the drive to remain professional noting that playing before supportive fans amplified every feeling. The comments revealed a player consciously managing external expectations while protecting the internal rhythm that had carried her through the first two tournaments of the swing. The tactical lesson from the McNally match remains Eala’s ability to adjust crosscourt targets and protect movement after the ankle scare keeps her unbeaten streak alive heading into the round of 16.