Alexandra Eala advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open after Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired due to an ankle injury during their second-round match early Sunday, Philippine time.
The No. 17 seed was leading 6-1, 3-0 when Ruse retired at Tony Trabert Stadium 3.
Eala quickly found her rhythm after Ruse took an extended opening game, winning the next six games to take the first set. She continued her strong start in the second set, building a 3-0 lead before Ruse called for a medical timeout to have her right ankle taped.
Play was later suspended due to lightning and rain, with Eala holding a 30-0 lead in the fourth game. Ruse eventually retired when the match resumed.
Eala, 21, will next face No. 9 seed Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the third round.
“I think that I was playing well. I think I felt the ball good, was really focused and tried to keep myself in the zone. I think I did a good job of that,” Eala said after the match.
“Of course, nobody likes to finish a match with a retirement. First and foremost, I just want to wish Gabriela-Ruse a speedy recovery, injuries aren't fun, so I hope she recovers soon,” she added.
Eala entered the Cincinnati tournament after reaching the fourth round of the Canadian Open.
She recently captured her first WTA 500 title at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, where she defeated world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, in the final.
She also won the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico last year after beating Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
