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No.20 Alex Eala Upsets McNally, Reaches Toronto Round of 16

8/9/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Alex Eala (World No. 20) beat No. 70 Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on August 8, 2026, to reach the Toronto National Bank Open Round of 16.
She twisted her right ankle in the second set, called a physio, took a medical timeout and said it was not serious.
The 2 h 39 m match gave her a seventh straight singles win, her career-longest streak, and set up a next-round meeting with No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic.

History

Historical Context

Li Na’s 2011 French Open triumph made her the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam, attracting about 330 million TV viewers and sparking a surge in Chinese tennis participation. That breakthrough set the stage for the rise of Asian talent, exemplified by Filipino star Alex Eala’s recent Toronto National Bank Open victory, which extends the continent’s presence in elite WTA draws.

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Story summary

Alex Eala (World No. 20) beat No. 70 Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on August 8, 2026, to reach the Toronto National Bank Open Round of 16.
She twisted her right ankle in the second set, called a physio, took a medical timeout and said it was not serious.
The 2 h 39 m match gave her a seventh straight singles win, her career-longest streak, and set up a next-round meeting with No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic.

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