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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Eala gets sweet revenge on Parks, marches into third round in Toronto

Eala gets sweet revenge on Parks, marches into third round in Toronto

Published Aug 6, 2026 11:18 am

At A Glance

  • The 25th-seeded Eala, who secured a first-round bye, dug deep in the deciding third set by breaking a 2-all deadlock and taking Parks' serve in the fifth game before reeling off the next three games to seal the gritty win in the WTA 1000 tournament.
Alex Eala. (Screengrab Premier Sports 2 / Blast TV)
Alex Eala. (Screengrab Premier Sports 2 / Blast TV)
Alex Eala weathered Alycia Parks’ booming serves and battled to a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory to advance to the third round of the National Bank Open before an energetic crowd in Toronto, Canada on Thursday, Aug. 6 (Philippine time).
The 25th-seeded Eala, who secured a first-round bye, dug deep in the deciding third set by breaking a 2-all deadlock and taking Parks’ serve in the fifth game before reeling off the next three games to seal the gritty win in the WTA 1000 tournament.
The victory also served as a sweet revenge for the world No. 20 Eala, who bowed to Parks in their first career meeting in the opening round of the Australian Open last January.
The win set up a third-round showdown with unseeded American Caty McNally, who pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by stunning reigning Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Linda Noskova, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
It will be the first career meeting between Eala and McNally.
Still riding the momentum of her breakthrough WTA title triumph at the Mubadala DC Open just days earlier, Eala came out firing by overpowering Parks to take the opening set in commanding fashion.
The world No. 71 American, however, quickly regrouped and responded in a tightly contested second set, breaking Eala’s serve in the 10th game to level the match and force a decider.
Unfazed by the setback, Eala seized a 2-0 lead in the deciding set before withstanding Parks’ relentless challenge, winning four of the final six games to complete the victory in one hour and 51 minutes.
Parks finished with 10 aces against six double faults, while Eala capitalized on her opportunities by converting five break points.

Related Tags

Alex Eala Alycia Parks WTA National Bank Open
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