TENNIS – ‘EALA-MANIA’ continues to grip North America as Alexandra Eala secured her passage into the round of 16 of the 2026 Canadian Open.
The Philippines’ tennis star, who is at a career high of world No. 20, survived a three-set tussle with the unseeded Caty McNally to win 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Toronto is the latest city to see packed stands with Philippines flags, something which has become commonplace on the WTA tour but is reaching new heights with the nation’s diaspora in the US and Canada.
“Someone in the crowd said they wanted to be Filipino for tonight,” Eala said after the match.
“That stuck with me. I went to a Bad Bunny concert. I felt Puerto Rican for that night. So for the Filipino community to have that effect on other people… I really hope the Canadians also get that feeling of hospitality from the Filipinos.”
A seventh consecutive win for Eala sets up a blockbuster fourth-round matchup with Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic, who herself survived a three-and-a-half-hour battle against Taylor Townsend.
This will be their first career meeting.
Elsewhere at the Canadian Open, fourth seed Coco Gauff had no issue dispatching the No 29 seed Maria Sakkari, coming through to prevail 6-1, 6-4.
The two-time major singles champion is playing her first tournament since Wimbledon and has three wins under her belt, including in the women’s doubles with McNally.
Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka needed just 72 minutes to beat Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-2 for her fourth win of the North American hard court swing.
There was also strong support for Canadian home hope Leylah Fernandez, who beat Roland-Garros champion Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-4 for a first win over a top-10 player since her run to the Washington Open title in July 2025.
Meanwhile, Ben Shelton threw down eight aces and produced three love games in the second set in dominating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-2 in reaching the fourth round of the ATP Montreal Masters.
Fifth seed Shelton, the highest-ranked man remaining in a severely depleted field, improved his chance for a second straight title in Canada with the rout in 65 minutes.
The American profited from foot faults and double-faults from his Belgian opponent in advancing to a round of 16 for the first time this season.
Shelton plays for a repeat spot in the last eight when he faces Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, who defeated ninth seed Casper Ruud 7-6(6), 6-3.
Fonseca recovered after a slow start, trailing the Norwegian 4-2 before fighting his way back into contention.
The youngster finished off the win after leading 5-2, claiming victory on a second match point winner into the empty court.
Tallon Griekspoor followed up his defeat of top-seeded Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev, with the Dutchman gaining late momentum and getting through a rough patch for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Matteo Arnaldi.
Griekspoor will bid for a quarter-final place when he takes on Spaniard Daniel Merida, who put out Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-1, saving two match points in the second set for the American.
Merida, who had never won a tour-level hardcourt match prior to this week, arrived in Canada after winning the Umag title on clay in Croatia last month.
Czech Jakub Mensik advanced past Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4, winning back-to-back matches for the first time since reaching the semis two months ago in Paris to break fresh ground in Canada.
He will next play Botic Van De Zandschulp, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-5.