National Bank Open presented by Rogers: Eala makes last 16
Alexandra Eala edged out Catherine McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on Saturday night. She’ll face Swiss Belinda Bencic, the No 12 seed, in the next round
Alexandra Eala, Toronto 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Alexandra Eala’s dream fortnight shows no sign of ending. Fresh from becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA title in Washington, the 21-year-old backed it up with another battling victory, edging American Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a late-night epic on Saturday to reach the last 16 of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto.
Seeded 25th and ranked No 28, Eala had to survive a genuine scrap against an in-form opponent. McNally, ranked No 73, had already knocked out No 6 seed and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and beaten Tatjana Maria this week, and she pushed Eala all the way, taking the second set before the Filipina steadied herself to close it out in the decider.
Eala was quick to salute her opponent afterwards. “I’m okay – I think I survived that one. It was so tough,” she said. “I want to thank Caty for a great match and for being a great sport. It’s one of those matches that could’ve gone either way; it was down to details and a little bit of luck. Give her her flowers, guys. It was a great match.”
Next round: Eala – Bencic
The Toronto crowd has embraced her run, and Eala returned the affection with a heartfelt reflection on the connection between her supporters and the Canadian fans. “Someone in the crowd said they wanted to be Filipino for tonight, that stuck with me,” she said.
Having earlier beaten Alycia Parks (6-1, 4-6, 6-2), Eala, who won the Washington tournament last week, now faces a stern test against No 12 seed Belinda Bencic, the 2015 champion, who outlasted Taylor Townsend 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-4 in a three-hour thriller.
Toronto, round of 32 full results
- A. Sabalenka (1) d. S. Zhang: 6-3, 6-4
- E. Alexandrova (16) d. T. Gibson: 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
- E. Svitolina (9) d. A. Potapova (24): 6-1, 6-1
- A. Anisimova (8) d. N. Bartunkova: 3-6, 6-0, 6-4
- J. Pegula (3) d. K. Rakhimova: 6-4, 6-0
- D. Shnaider (15) d. A. Kalinskaya (17): 6-3, 6-3
- M. Kostyuk (10) d. M. Keys (19): 6-3, 6-1
- I. Swiatek (7) d. V. Golubic: 6-2, 6-1
- A. Eala (25) d. C. McNally: 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
- B. Bencic (12) d. T. Townsend: 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-4
- A. Korneeva d. I. Jovic (13): 6-3, 6-4
- C. Gauff (4) d. M. Sakkari (29): 6-1, 6-4
- L. Fernandez (30) d. M. Andreeva (5): 6-1, 6-4
- N. Osaka (11) d. E. Mertens (20): 6-1, 6-2
- L. Samsonova d. M. Joint: 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-2
- E. Rybakina (2) d. A. Li (28): 6-2, 7-5
