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Alex Eala emotional after hard-fought Canadian Open victory over Caty McNally
Alexandra "Alex" Eala nearly broke down in tears once Caty McNally went wide on her final attack, handing the Filipina star a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory in the Canadian Open Round of 32 in Toronto on Friday (Saturday, Philippine time).
"I think I survived that one, it was so tough," Eala said.
"It's one of those matches that I really could have gone either way. I think it was really down to details and a little bit of luck. So, give her her flowers guys, it was a really great match."
Eala had to power through a number of adversities in the match.
The 21-year-old Filipina found herself in an early hole after the American raced to a 3-1 lead, but the Philippine bet won five straight games to complete the turnaround and draw first blood against McNally, who was coming off a huge upset of reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the second round.
Eala clinched a 3-2 lead in Set 2 but had to call for a medical timeout and get her right ankle taped. McNally then rallied and won two straight games before Eala clinched the match point at 5-4. However, McNally stunned the Filipina by seizing the next three games to level the match.
Holding a 4-1 edge in Set 3, McNally once again fought back and pulled to within 5-4, but Eala held on to hack out a tough win and advance to the Round of 16, winning her seventh straight match since opening her historic DC Open run.
Eala will look to sustain this momentum when she heads to the Round of 16, where she will take on world No. 14 Belinda Bencic.
"I mean these two weeks have been incredible for me. Just so many extreme emotions and I'm doing my best to power through and be professional and do what I know how to do and to play in front of you guys, it's amazing," Eala added.
"So, I mean the motivation to come here and play another match, everything just becomes so much more emotional guys."
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA News
