2026 August 10

TORONTO — Alexandra Eala’s remarkable run at the National Bank Open came to an end Sunday as the young Filipino fell to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-0 in the fourth round.

But despite the one-sided second set, Eala left the court to a tremendous ovation from a large Filipino crowd that had turned the Toronto tournament into something resembling a home event for the rising Philippine star.

Eala had already made history by reaching the fourth round, defeating a series of established opponents along the way. Her victory over Caty McNally in the previous round had sent her into the last 16 and set up a meeting with Bencic, a former world No. 4 and Olympic singles champion.

The winner would advance to the quarterfinals to face American star Coco Gauff. Instead, it was Bencic who emerged victorious, but Eala’s performance throughout the tournament provided plenty of reasons for optimism.

A Filipino home-court atmosphere

The match followed Naomi Osaka’s meeting with Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, whose Filipino heritage had also drawn considerable attention from the large Filipino community in Toronto.

By the time Eala walked onto the court, the stands were filled with Filipino supporters, producing loud cheers for virtually every Eala winner.

The atmosphere clearly mattered to Eala. In a pre-match interview, she said it was her first time playing in Toronto and expressed amazement at the sheer number of Filipino fans who had come out to support her.

For much of the opening set, those fans had plenty to cheer about.

Eala fights Bencic in tight opening set

Eala served first and immediately established herself with aggressive tennis, using her serve and forehand to take a 1-0 lead. Bencic answered with a strong service game of her own, leveling the match at 1-1.

The first major breakthrough came in the third game. Eala struggled with her serve, committing two double faults, while Bencic began applying pressure from the baseline.

A forehand error from Eala handed Bencic a break point, and the Swiss player converted when Eala sent a return into the net. Bencic led 2-1.

Eala responded immediately.

With the crowd behind her, she attacked Bencic’s second serve and found success with her forehand down the line. A strong return eventually gave Eala a break point, which she converted to level the set at 2-2.

The pattern continued: neither player was willing to surrender control.

Bencic regained the advantage in the fifth game, breaking Eala again to move ahead 3-2. She consolidated the break with a strong service game, including a big ace, to lead 4-2.

Eala refused to go away.

She held serve to cut the deficit to 4-3 before producing one of her best stretches of tennis in the eighth game.

Attacking Bencic’s second serve, Eala repeatedly found the lines with her forehand. She earned a break point and, after a long battle that reached deuce, eventually broke back when Bencic double-faulted.

Suddenly, the set was level at 4-4.

The momentum, however, shifted again.

Serving at 4-4, Eala committed several errors and faced break points. She fought through deuce and produced a spectacular volley to stay alive, but Bencic eventually earned another break to move ahead 5-4.

Bencic then served for the set.

Eala continued fighting, producing a superb passing shot and forcing Bencic to work through the game. But the Swiss veteran eventually secured the set 6-4.

Bencic takes control

The second set began with Eala attempting to regain the momentum.

She opened with an ace and an aggressive strike down the line, but Bencic quickly asserted herself. The Swiss player had found her rhythm and was striking the ball cleanly from both wings.

Her ability to redirect Eala’s pace became increasingly difficult for the Filipino to counter.

Bencic broke Eala in the opening game and then held comfortably to move ahead 2-0.

Eala tried to stop the momentum with her forehand, but Bencic continued to dictate the rallies. Another break put Bencic ahead 3-0.

At that point, the match was slipping away from Eala.

Bencic’s experience and consistency were proving decisive, while Eala appeared to be losing some of the energy that had powered her through the earlier rounds.

Bencic continued pressing.

She held for 4-0 before breaking Eala again to move within one game of the match.

Serving for the victory at 5-0, Bencic quickly reached 40-0 and appeared on the verge of closing out the match.

But Eala refused to surrender.

The Filipino fought off match points, produced another excellent return and pushed the game to deuce, drawing another huge roar from the crowd.

Bencic eventually regained control, however, and closed out the match 6-4, 6-0.

A tournament to remember

Despite the disappointing finish, Eala received a tremendous ovation as she walked off the court.

The scoreline did not diminish what had been an outstanding week for the young Filipino.

Playing in front of one of the largest Filipino crowds she had ever experienced, Eala showed that she could compete with established WTA players and handle the pressure of a major tournament stage.

Bencic, meanwhile, moves into the quarterfinals, where she will face Gauff.

For Eala, the journey ends in Toronto — but it may also mark the beginning of an important new chapter in her career.

The cheers from the Filipino supporters continued long after the final ball.

For one memorable week in Toronto, Alexandra Eala had made a Canadian tournament feel like home.

by Dean de Jesus, FWH