With Cincinnati run over, Alex Eala can look ahead to US Open

With her Cincinnati Open campaign now over, Alex Eala can shift her focus to the next big thing: the US Open.

The 21-year-old Filipina tennis star won the first set against Amanda Anisimova, but failed to sustain the momentum to absorb a 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 loss in the Round of 32 and bow out of contention.

Despite it all, Eala has gained the experiences and lessons that will come handy once she returns for her second US Open stint later this month.

Eala is expected to earn a seeding in women's singles of this year’s final Grand Slam, with the Filipina currently ranked No. 20 in the world. Eala has also been paired with world No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime for the mixed doubles category.

Prior to the US Open, Eala is carrying a stellar North American swing campaign. She ousted several top players in the Mubadala DC Open, including world no. 3 Jessica Pegula in the finals, to clinch her first WTA Tour title.

Eala then saw action in back-to-back WTA1000 events, reaching the Round of 16 of the Canadian Open before falling to Anisimova in Cincinnati.

Alex Eala's North American swing

Cincinnati Open — Round of 32

Canadian Open — Round of 16

DC Open — Champion

In the upcoming US Open, Eala will look to replicate---or possibly surpass---her previous showing. Last year, she became the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam game after beating Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(13) in her main draw debut.

But Eala fell to Cristina Bucsa of Spain in the Round of 64, 6-4, 6-3, to end her run.

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