Who is Amanda Anisimova? Alex Eala's third-round foe in the Cincinnati Open

Alexandra "Alex" Eala will once again get the chance to measure just how far she has come—and how much farther she can go—as she continues her Cincinnati Open run.

The 21-year-old Filipina could do just that in the Round of 32 against American star Amanda Anisimova, the latest top-ranked player to stand in her way amid her rising career.

Like Eala, Anisimova, now 24 and world No. 10, was also once hailed as a teen prodigy, winning the 2017 US Open Girls' singles by sweeping compatriot and fellow future star Coco Gauff in the finals.

Anisimova then moved to the professional ranks and made an even much bigger impact after dethroning Simona Halep to reach the semifinals of the 2019 French Open at just 17 years old, and making the quarterfinals of the 2022 Wimbledon.

However, Anisimova’s rise was not without its setbacks.

The American star stepped away from the sport for eight months, from May 2023 to January 2024, as she dealt with burnout and prioritized her mental health. That break saw Anisimova’s ranking plummet from No. 46 to No. 373 as she remained away from competitive action.

When she returned to competitive play, Anisimova was unstoppable, reaching the finals of the 2024 Canadian Open before falling to Jessica Pegula. She ended that year at No. 39.

In 2025, Anisimova reached two Grand Slam finals in a row, making her first-ever Wimbledon final before following it up with another championship-round appearance at the US Open. She fell to Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and Aryna Sabalenka in New York.

Still, her remarkable comeback allowed Anisimova to surge all the way to No. 4 in the WTA rankings to finish the 2025 season.

Last January, Anisimova reached a career-high mark at No. 3 during her Round of 16 run at the Brisbane International. She then reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, and the HSBC Championships quarterfinals.

Against Anisimova, Eala will look to secure her 10th win against a Top 10 player. The Filipina has already beaten Swiatek and Svitolina twice, while also securing one win apiece over Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula.

—JKC, GMA News