MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala advanced to the third round of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday after Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired with an injury while trailing the Filipina, 6-1, 3-0, in their second-round match in Mason, Ohio.
Eala controlled the match before play was suspended because of lightning at Toney Trabert Stadium 3 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Ruse later decided not to continue because of a right foot injury.
The victory extended Eala’s strong run on the hardcourt swing. The 21-year-old Filipina recently captured her first WTA Tour title at the DC Open and has now won 11 of her last 13 matches.
Eala broke Ruse three times in the opening set and quickly built a double-break lead in the second. The Romanian received a medical timeout and had her right foot strapped before the weather interruption.
Eala, the tournament’s No. 17 seed, will next face American No. 9 seed Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3. It will be the first meeting between Eala and Anisimova.
“I haven’t played her (Eala) before. She’s been having such an incredible season, an incredible year,” Anisimova said after her victory. “A very great player with a lot of fans, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Eala has reached the Cincinnati round of 32 after receiving a first-round bye. Her next match will give her another opportunity to test her recent form against a top-10 opponent.
