TENNIS

Eala advances as opponent retires during rain delay

Agence France-Presse · Aug 16, 2026, 2:39 AM

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates against Caty McNally of the United States during day six of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. — MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala advanced to the third round of the ATP-WTA Masters 6-1, 3-0 on Saturday as injured Elena-Gabriela Ruse quit their match during a weather delay.

The Romanian had received treatment on her right ankle just before play was halted by a thunderstorm.

During the 90-minute delay, Ruse pulled the plug on her effort, sending ninth seed Eala through.

Eala, the emerging WTA star who captured her first WTA title in Washington this month, will next play Amanda Anisimova after the American ninth seed beat Turk Zeynep Sonmez 6-2, 6-3.

As always, world number 20 Eala was supported by a vocal crowd of compatriots, with Philippines flags displayed in abundance.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed similar support around the world -- in her run to the second week of Wimbledon, her breakthrough win in Washington and at this months' 1000 event in Toronto, where she was beaten in the fourth round by Swiss veteran Belinda Bencic.

Eala and Ruse swapped breaks in the first two games before Eala ran off six straight games to pocket the set.

They got through three more games in the second before the weather threat sent them indoors.