Anisimova defeats Eala in Cincinnati Open comeback

Amanda Anisimova rallied from a set down to defeat Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the third round of the Cincinnati Open on Monday night, ending the Filipino star's impressive run against top-10 opponents. The match, which concluded just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, featured a dramatic momentum shift and a brief moment of confusion over a beverage.

Eala, the 17th seed, took the opening set 6-4 after a grueling 65-minute battle that included a 20-minute fifth game. The 21-year-old appeared poised to continue her strong form, which included a recent title in Washington, when she built a 2-0 lead in the deciding third set. However, the ninth-seeded Anisimova found her rhythm, winning 10 of the final 12 games to secure the victory.

The turning point came in the sixth game of the second set, where Anisimova held serve despite committing three double faults. She then carried that momentum into the final set, breaking Eala's serve in three consecutive games to close out the match. "Alex is such a great player and such a fighter, so I knew it was really going to be a tough match," Anisimova said. "I'm really proud of...