Alex Eala is on course to reach a new career milestone in the WTA Rankings even after her third-round exit at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

The Filipina player was beaten 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 by ninth seed Amanda Anisimova in a demanding last-32 match at the WTA 1000 event in Mason, Ohio. It was the first meeting between Eala and the world No 10, the 24-year-old American who has twice finished runner-up at Grand Slams.

Eala entered Cincinnati as the 17th seed and made her tournament debut there. She opened with a first-round bye before defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round. The 21-year-old has still produced a strong North American hard-court campaign, compiling an 8-2 record so far.

Her summer run included five wins at the Washington Open, where she claimed her maiden WTA Tour title. She then added two more victories at the Canadian Open to stretch her winning streak to seven matches before Belinda Bencic ended her progress in the last 16.

Eala began the Cincinnati Open at a career-high world No 20, built on her results in Washington DC and Toronto. By reaching the second round in Cincinnati, she earned 65 ranking points and moved to 2,281 points in total. That has lifted her two places to 18th in the Live WTA Rankings, which would be another best mark.

Her position is not yet secure, though, as players below her in the Live Rankings are still active in Cincinnati and could still move ahead of her.

Before the tournament, Eala explained what she would regard as success in Cincinnati.

“I think it’s just the level that I play,” Eala replied. “And of course, the more matches, the merrier, right?

“But it’s the matches of substance, and it’s the ones that… did I execute what I want to execute? Did I bring the level that I wanted to bring?

“So, if I lose first round, but it’s a really good match, not to say that it’s a successful week, but it wasn’t a bad one. And if I reach the final, then I’ll take that too (laughs).”

Elena Rybakina has moved back ahead of Aryna Sabalenka in the Race to the WTA Finals, with Alex Eala sitting 15th as the North American hard-court swing continues in Cincinnati.

The latest standings reflect contrasting Canadian Open runs for the leading pair. Sabalenka, the world No 1, was eliminated in the fourth round, while second-ranked Rybakina reached the final before losing to Iga Swiatek. Both players are now in Cincinnati for the second WTA 1000 event of the summer hard-court stretch.

The Race to the WTA Finals rewards the eight women who collect the most ranking points across the 2026 campaign. Those eight will secure places at the season-ending WTA Finals, scheduled for Indian Wells, United States, from 8 to 15 November. A current-year Grand Slam champion finishing between ninth and 20th would claim the last qualifying place, while the ninth and 10th players in the standings can attend as alternates if there are withdrawals.

Rybakina, the reigning WTA Finals champion, remains in strong position after moving to 5,397 points. She also collected a record-breaking $5,235,000 for winning last year’s event.

Sabalenka follows on 5,130 points, 267 behind the leader, while Mirra Andreeva is one point further back in third. Elina Svitolina sits fourth on 4,679 points, with Jessica Pegula fifth on 4,515. Karolina Muchova holds sixth despite not having played since the Wimbledon final because of injury. Coco Gauff and Linda Noskova are seventh and eighth.

Below the cutoff, Marta Kostyuk is ninth on 3,460 points. Iga Swiatek is 10th on 3,074 after earning 1,000 points for her win in Toronto, leaving her 730 points behind Noskova. Eala is 15th with 2,061 points after her third round loss to Amanda Anisimova in Cincinnati.

Alex Eala may have exited the Cincinnati Open, but her presence left a clear mark on the tournament well beyond the scoreline.

The Filipina player was beaten in three sets by Amanda Anisimova in the third round, after opening her campaign with a win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Even so, Eala remained one of the central figures of the North American swing, following her title run at the Washington Open and the full crowds that followed her at the Canadian Open.

Her support has been especially strong among the Filipino community in North America, and that backing has coincided with a major rise in her 2026 ranking. She is now world No 18.

According to Sam Querrey, speaking on Nothing Major, Eala’s appeal also pushed up ticket values in Cincinnati.

“Oh, you know what I heard last night, too? I got another little fun fact. Alex Eala plays tonight [against Anisimova]. The average ticket price on centre court tonight compared to I think it was two nights ago is $160 higher per ticket and sold out,” said Querrey.

Her effect on attendance is not new. At the Canadian Open, tournament director Karl Hale said Eala’s run created a level of interest the event had not previously seen.

“We’ve never seen anything like that in Toronto before. It was unexpected. We saw the momentum build from February in Doha, and over the past year. And it really culminated in the week of, which every match she played it sold out,” he explained.

“She was just so engaging with her fans and the community. It was really beautiful to see her so loyal to her fans. I think one of the uniquenesses about this event in particular this year was, in the past we saw tens of flags from various nations throughout.

“This year we saw hundreds and thousands of flags. Last night you saw the engagement of the fans with each other, which was great to see. In addition to that, you saw the fans staying until the end of the session for the whole tournament.”

Her profile may rise further at the US Open later this month, where she has a wildcard into the Mixed Doubles with Felix Auger-Aliassime and will also face Iva Jovic in an exhibition match during opening week.