Eala won the first set. And that's exactly what no one expected.
The Filipina opened 6-4, held on as long as she could, and left Cincinnati with a loss worth far more than ranking points.
Eala did what almost no one anticipated in Cincinnati: she took the first set from Anisimova 6-4. The American needed three sets, a comeback, and a final 6-2 to close 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. But the talk after the match wasn’t about the score. It was about resilience.
At 20, Eala doesn’t have the resume of Anisimova, who has already reached a Grand Slam semifinal. But she showed courage in the opening set, sustained long rallies, and forced the favorite out of her comfort zone. The WTA recorded the comeback as one of the night’s battles. And battle is the right word: the two played late into the night, set by set, point by point.
I defend women’s tennis tooth and nail, and this kind of match gives me hope. Not because of the Filipina’s loss, but because of the evidence that the circuit’s foundation is more alive than ever. Anisimova now faces Noskova in the round of 16, and the question lingers as to whether the fatigue of three sets against Eala will weigh on her. The Czech is young, aggressive, and won’t forgive a slow start.
What does Eala take from Cincinnati besides the elimination? Ranking points and prize money, like everyone else. But above all, she takes the certainty that she belongs at this level. Winning a set from Anisimova in the third round of a WTA 1000 is not an accident. It’s repertoire.
If you still doubt the Filipina, watch what she does in the coming weeks. Players who carry this kind of loss rarely go back to the anonymity line. They come back to the fight.
Read the match analysis for details of the clash.