It was not easy but rising tennis star Alexandra Eala pulled out a gritty win to advance to the round of eight at the Canadian Open in Toronto.
Clearly showing the wear and tear of tension-filled matches in the last two weeks, after her contest against Caty McNally, Eala said, "I think I survived that one It was so tough."
Filipina tennis phenomenon Eala continues to rewrite the record books and capture the hearts of the global diaspora. On Friday night, the 21-year-old left-hander survived a roller-coaster three-set thriller against the American, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 at a raucous, flag-waving Sobeys Stadium.It wasn't just a clinic in baseline tennis; it was a showcase of sheer Asian grit. Facing a medical timeout for a taped right ankle in the second set and watching a match point slip away, Eala battled through the adversity.
Boosted by a heavily pro-Filipino crowd that turned Toronto into a home-court advantage, she stripped off the medical tape in the final set and willed her way to a seventh consecutive WTA victory.
Next up for the 21-year old Pinay? A high-stakes, first-ever meeting against Switzerland's world-class Olympic Gold Medalist, Belinda Bencic.
The diaspora noted
Tournament organizers were absolutely floored by the turnout that they said that every match Eala plays will be in the center court.
They also smartly added chicken adobo, the Philippines national dish, to the tournament menu to the delight of the fans new to the sport.
The referee must have been told to be patient with the Filipino fans unaccustomed to tennis etiquette. Several times during the match, she had to remind to be quiet while the match was going on. Amid cheers of "Let's go Alex!" the referee looked exasperated.
In other matches featuring Asian Americans: Korean American Jessica Pergula advanced to the round of 16 by beating Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0.Japanese American Naomi Osaka also made it to the round of 16 by defeating Elise Mertens with a score of 6-1, 6-2.
View from the edge
Eala said this morning that her ankle is OK and shouldn't be an issue in her next match. She will face Belinda Bencic on Sunday, August 9, 2026, marking the first career meeting between the two tennis stars.
Bencic is hunting for her fourth quarterfinal in Canada, while Eala aims to punch a ticket to her third WTA 1000 quarterfinal of this breakout 2026 season.
When Eala is playing, you can hear the cheers coming out Toronto's Little Manila at Kalbros Sports Bar or La Socarrat Paella Bar & Grill where watch parties are happening. For them and the AAPI fans watching Eala's meteoric rise, this isn't just about tennis anymore—it's about a young woman of color dominating on the world stage, refusing to back down, and breaking barriers with every single swing of the racket.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.
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