2026 August 08

Alexandra Eala celebrates during her National Bank Open campaign in Toronto after defeating Caty McNally, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, to reach the Round of 16.

TORONTO, Canada — Alexandra Eala’s remarkable run at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers continued Friday as the No. 25 seed survived a bruising three-set battle against American Caty McNally, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to reach the Round of 16.

Eala overcame an early deficit, surrendered a commanding position in the second set and battled through an apparent right-foot injury before finding enough composure and firepower to prevail in the deciding set.

It was the kind of victory that demanded more than clean tennis. It demanded resilience.

McNally repeatedly pushed Eala to the brink, but the Filipina found answers whenever the match threatened to slip away.

Eala turns early setback into first-set comeback

McNally came out aggressively, breaking Eala early to build a 3-1 advantage.

The American appeared to have the upper hand, using aggressive groundstrokes and well-timed passing shots to disrupt Eala’s rhythm.

But Eala refused to remain on the defensive.

With McNally serving at 3-2, a string of double faults opened the door. Eala took advantage, breaking back to level the set at 3-3.

From there, the Filipina settled into her baseline game. She began mixing powerful groundstrokes with slices and drop shots, forcing McNally to adjust to different tempos and angles.

Eala held for 4-3 before turning up the pressure once again. She attacked McNally’s second serves and capitalized on long returns to earn another break and move ahead 5-3.

Serving for the set, Eala faced one final challenge. McNally fought back to 30-all, but Eala answered with a timely passing shot before closing out the opener, 6-3.

A set that had begun with Eala trailing 1-3 had ended with the Filipino star winning five of the next six games.

Second-set collapse brings McNally back

The second set was a different story.

Eala initially appeared to be taking control, breaking McNally to move ahead 2-1. McNally immediately responded, however, breaking back to level the set.

Eala struck again to take a 3-2 lead, but the momentum soon shifted for another reason.

Eala required medical attention after an issue with her right foot, with a trainer attending to the affected area before she returned to competition.

McNally sensed an opportunity.

She broke Eala to make it 3-3 and then held serve to move ahead 4-3. Eala steadied herself, holding for 4-4 before applying pressure once more.

Aggressive returns helped Eala earn another break, putting her ahead 5-4 and within one game of victory.

But McNally refused to fold.

With Eala serving for the match, the American raced ahead 0-30 and eventually forced a break to level the set at 5-5.

McNally then held to take a 6-5 lead.

Eala was now serving simply to stay alive in the set. McNally seized the opportunity, eventually taking the second set 7-5 and sending the match into a decider.

For Eala, the missed opportunity was costly. She had twice been within a game of ending the contest, only for McNally to claw her way back.

Eala finds another gear in the decider

The deciding set demanded a response.

Eala delivered one immediately.

She broke McNally in the opening game, using aggressive returns to establish an early 1-0 advantage. She then survived a difficult service game to consolidate the break and move ahead 2-0.

McNally answered by holding, but Eala continued to dictate large portions of the baseline exchanges.

Her cross-court forehands and down-the-line backhands repeatedly forced McNally into difficult defensive positions. Eala held for 3-1 and maintained her advantage at 4-2.

Still, McNally would not disappear.

The American battled through a lengthy seventh game, surviving multiple break-point opportunities before holding to cut Eala’s lead to 4-3.

Eala responded with one of her most composed games of the match.

Strong serving helped her race to a 40-0 lead, and she held comfortably to move within one game of victory at 5-3.

McNally answered again, holding serve to make it 5-4.

Once more, Eala had to serve for the match.

This time, there was no collapse.

Eala held her nerve, closed out the deciding set 6-4 and finally ended McNally’s resistance.

Another test awaits

The victory sends Eala into the Round of 16, where she will face No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic.

The matchup represents another major test for the 25th-seeded Filipina as her Toronto campaign enters its fourth round.

But if Friday’s battle against McNally proved anything, it is that Eala has become increasingly comfortable winning difficult matches.

She was pushed back.

She was tested physically.

She let a match-winning opportunity disappear.

And yet, when the decisive moment arrived, she found a way forward.

Eala did not win because the match was easy. She won because she refused to let a difficult match define her.

And in Toronto, her run continues.

-K, FWH