Alex Eala earns first-round bye at Cincinnati Open

In back-to-back WTA 1000 events, Alex Eala has earned a first-round bye, with the Filipina star starting her campaign in the Round of 64 in her Cincinnati Open debut this week.

This came after the world No. 20 Filipina star secured the No. 17 seed—the third time in her last four tournaments, including Wimbledon and the Canadian Open, that she is seeded—as Eala makes her first appearance at the prestigious event that serves as one of her final preparations for the US Open.

Eala, who is coming off a Round 16 exit in the Canadian Open, will face either Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Poland's Magda Linette, who will face each other in the Round of 128 on Thursday.

The upcoming Cincinnati Open will feature the best of the best in the world with the likes of top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva all expected to compete.

Iga Swiatek is the reigning champion after the Polish star defeated Rybakina in the semifinals before sweeping Italian star Jasmine Paolini in the finals.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News