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Amanda Anisimova fought back from a set down to defeat Alex Eala at the Cincinnati Open and book her place in the last 16.
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The American acknowledged Eala’s growing popularity and admitted she knew the Filipino star would have strong support from the crowd.
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Eala’s defeat ends another impressive tournament run, but her rapid rise continues ahead of the US Open.
August 18, (THEWILL) — Amanda Anisimova has made an honest admission about Alex Eala and the huge support surrounding the Filipino star after overcoming her at the Cincinnati Open.
The American was forced to battle back from a set down before securing a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory and advancing to the last 16, but her comments afterwards showed that she was well aware of the attention Eala attracts wherever she plays.
Eala arrived in Cincinnati riding a wave of confidence after a remarkable 2026 season.
The 21-year-old had climbed to 18th in the live WTA rankings after starting the year at 53rd, while her biggest achievement came earlier this month when she became the first Filipina to win a WTA singles title after claiming the Washington Open.
Her rapid rise has also created an enormous following among Filipino tennis fans, something that has become increasingly visible at tournaments around the world.
That support was again noticeable in Cincinnati as Eala faced world number 10 Anisimova in the last 32.
Eala made the stronger start and took the opening set 6-4, putting the American under pressure. Anisimova, however, responded emphatically, winning six consecutive games in the second set before carrying her momentum into the decider and completing the comeback.
Despite eliminating Eala, Anisimova was quick to recognise the quality of her opponent and the challenge she had faced.
The American described Eala as a talented player and praised her fighting spirit, making it clear that she had expected a difficult contest.
“I know Alex is such a great player and such a fighter. I knew it was gonna be a really tough match,” Anisimova said after the victory.
The American also spoke about the atmosphere inside the stadium and admitted that she was grateful for the support she received from the crowd.
Anisimova knew that Eala had developed a huge following and appreciated the fact that some of the spectators were backing her during the contest.
“There was quite a bit of support for me tonight, so I really appreciate that, because I know how loved Alex is… And for good reason,” she added.
Anisimova’s comments underline how quickly Eala’s popularity has grown since her breakthrough on the professional tour.
At the Canadian Open, her match against Alycia Parks reportedly sold out within hours, while her large Filipino following became one of the talking points surrounding the tournament.
Even though Eala could not reproduce her Washington Open title-winning run in Cincinnati, her progress throughout the season remains remarkable.
She has established herself as one of the most exciting young players on the WTA Tour and has continued to defeat established opponents while climbing the rankings.
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Anisimova, meanwhile, moves into the last 16 where she will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
The American will hope her comeback against Eala can provide momentum for another deep run at the WTA 1000 event.
For Eala, attention now turns towards the US Open, where she will be looking to make another statement on the Grand Slam stage.
She is also scheduled to compete in the mixed doubles competition alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime.
With the US Open beginning on August 30, Eala will have little time to dwell on the Cincinnati defeat.
Her season has already established her as one of the fastest-rising names in women’s tennis, and the extraordinary support following her suggests her journey is attracting an audience far beyond the traditional tennis world.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
