Belinda Bencic Defeats Alex Eala in Toronto Open Round of 16

TORONTO, Canada — Alex Eala’s impressive run at the National Bank Open came to an end on 9 August 2026 following a 6-4, 6-0 defeat to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the round of 16 in Toronto.

The loss snapped a seven-match winning streak for the 21-year-old Filipina, who arrived in Canada fresh from capturing her historic first WTA singles title at the DC Open in Washington.

Playing on Sobeys Stadium court, Eala opened the match with confidence, holding serve at love before exchanging early service breaks with the 12th-seeded Swiss veteran. Eala fought back to level the opening set at 4-4, but Bencic responded with sharp angles and clean shot-making to claim the frame 6-4.

Bencic dominated the second set, maintaining clinical control on serve and unpicking Eala’s defence to sweep through six consecutive games and secure her place in the quarter-finals in 1 hour and 13 minutes.

Despite the exit, Eala drew significant support from the local audience, leaving the court to a standing ovation from Toronto's Filipino community. Reflecting on her tournament debut, Eala expressed gratitude for the crowd’s backing and remained positive about her form, noting that maintaining her health and building on recent progress remain her top priorities.

Eala now turns her attention to the upcoming WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati before heading to New York for the US Open.