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Bencic Beats Eala 6-4, 6-0, Sets Gauff Quarterfinal

8/10/2026

28 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Belinda Bencic (No. 12 seed) defeated Alex Eala (Filipina) 6-4, 6-0 in the Canadian Open round of 16 in Toronto.
The win snapped Eala’s seven-match streak, a loss on the North American swing, after she saved two match points and forced a deuce, with Bencic hitting 67% of first-serve points to Eala’s 53%.
Bencic will meet Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.
Eala will compete at Cincinnati Open, a WTA 1000, beginning August 15.

History

Historical Context

Li Na’s 2004 Guangzhou title made her the first Chinese WTA champion, and in 2006 she became the first Chinese woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon. Her success lifted Asian participation and saw her climb to a career-high No. 3 in 2013, the highest for an East Asian female. In 2024, Belinda Bencic’s defeat of Alex Eala at the Canadian Open echoed Li Na’s barrier-breaking legacy.

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Story summary

Belinda Bencic (No. 12 seed) defeated Alex Eala (Filipina) 6-4, 6-0 in the Canadian Open round of 16 in Toronto.
The win snapped Eala’s seven-match streak, a loss on the North American swing, after she saved two match points and forced a deuce, with Bencic hitting 67% of first-serve points to Eala’s 53%.
Bencic will meet Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.
Eala will compete at Cincinnati Open, a WTA 1000, beginning August 15.

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