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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Fresh off WTA title, Eala faces bigger test in Toronto

Fresh off WTA title, Eala faces bigger test in Toronto

Published Aug 4, 2026 01:24 pm

At A Glance

  • The WTA 1000 event has been underway since last Sunday, Aug. 2, with Eala securing an opening-round bye and the 25th seeding.
Alex Eala. (Mubadala DC Open)
Alex Eala. (Mubadala DC Open)
There will be little time for Alex Eala to savor her breakthrough WTA Tour title as she is expected to quickly shift her focus to an even tougher test at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada this week.
The WTA 1000 event has been underway since last Sunday, Aug. 2, with Eala securing an opening-round bye and the 25th seeding.
Tournament organizers initially scheduled Eala’s opening round match for Wednesday night, Aug. 5 (Thursday night, Aug. 6, Philippine), where she was set to face American Alycia Parks, who defeated qualifier Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, 6-4, 6-4.
It will be the second meeting between Eala and Parks, with the American winning their first and only matchup in the first round of the Australian Open last January, 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.
But much has changed since then, with both players having made significant strides in the rankings. Eala surged from No. 49 at the time to career-high No. 20 this week, while Parks has also improved, climbing from No. 99 to No. 71.
More than meeting Parks, Eala is also expected to be cautious of what lies ahead deeper in the bracket, where she is in the lower half of the draw that has reigning Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Linda Noskova, No. 21 Marie Bouzkova, No. 12 Belinda Bencic, qualifier Sloane Stephens, and good friend No. 13 Iva Jovic, to name a few.
After the National Bank Open, Eala is also scheduled for the Cincinnati Open -- another WTA 1000 event -- set Aug. 13 to 23 which serves as a buildup for the US Open slated Aug. 30 to Sept. 13.

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