The emotional, high-octane two-week journey that captivated a nation finally came to a halt late Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila) on Center Court at the National Bank Open. Facing 2020 Olympic champion, World No. 12 and 2015 Toronto winner Belinda Bencic, 21-year-old Alexandra Eala saw her incredible seven-match win streak end in the Round of 16 with a 4-6, 0-6 defeat.
While the scoreline reflected a dominant finish for the Swiss veteran, Eala’s thrilling, courageous run through Washington and Toronto has cemented her status as a force to be reckoned with on the WTA Tour.
The late-night finale opened with rapid-fire momentum shifts. Eala made an immediate statement, shutting out Bencic in the opening game with a quick four-point hold, only for Bencic to return the favor to level at 1-1. After an exchange of breaks left the set tied 2-2, Bencic struck again, breaking Eala’s serve to take a 3-2 lead and consolidating it to push ahead 4-2 as the Filipina began to struggle with her baseline consistency.
Eala dug deep to claim the seventh game, trailing 3-4, and then capitalized on a crucial shift in momentum. At 40-40 in the eighth game, Bencic missed a routine winner and followed it with a double fault, gifting Eala the break to tie the set 4-4 to the delight of her roaring fans.
However, the Swiss star’s big-match experience shone through immediately after. Bencic re-broken Eala’s serve for 5-4, stepped up to the line, and served out the set with clinical composure to take the opener 6-4.
As the second set got underway, the physical toll of Eala’s marathon two weeks—compounded by the ankle injury sustained in her previous round—began to clearly take its toll. Eala’s timing strayed, with several groundstrokes drifting wide or hitting the net, allowing Bencic an early break for 1-0.
From that point on, Bencic put on an absolute masterclass. Playing near-flawless tennis, the former World No. 4 hit 20 winners against just six unforced errors throughout the match. She mixed precise placement with relentless defense, taking points almost at will as Eala grew visibly fatigued.
Bencic raced through games to build a commanding 5-0 lead. Serving for the match at 40-0, Bencic faced one final stand from the Filipina phenom. Showing the trademark grit that made her a household name, Eala saved three match points to force deuce, but Bencic ultimately shut the door to seal the 6-4, 6-0 victory.
With the win, Bencic advances to a marquee quarterfinal matchup against Coco Gauff.
For Eala, the end of this sensational seven-match stretch is hardly a setback—it is a launchpad. After capturing her historic first WTA 500 crown in Washington and making a deep run into a WTA 1000 main draw in Toronto, her devoted throng of fans will now follow her to the Cincinnati Open and, ultimately, the crown jewel of the North American summer: the US Open in New York.
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