OPENING yet another high-level contest at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open in Ohio, Alex Eala will re-engage with a 2024 heartbreaker in Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the round of 64.
The Filipina world No. 20 is the tournament’s 17th seed, her highest seeding on Tour so far.
Cincinnati is the third stop in her North American hard-court swing, following her maiden title run in Washington and a round-of-16 finish in Toronto.
Eala last saw action Monday, losing to Belinda Bencic, 4-6, 0-6, to cap her Canadian Open debut. She then took a few days off before flying back to the U.S.
As a seeded player, she earned a first-round bye.
Ruse, 77th in the world, meanwhile, defeated Magda Linette, 6-0, 6-3, in the round of 128 to book her spot in the second round.
The Romanian holds the edge in their lone career meeting, having ousted Eala in the third round of the US Open 2024 qualifiers, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
The two will meet again on Saturday, with the specific time still to be determined.
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