Could the Citi Open become the first tournament that Alex Eala wins in her young career? Things are trending positively for the Filipina after she defeated Leylah Fernandez in the second round.
Unlike Eala's first-round match against Zheng Qinwen, the rising star didn't have to compete against a player with more power on her serve. Instead, the match featured two players who can hit groundstrokes well but need precision to win. Eala, though, at her best, has more room for error as she has a strong backhand than the Canadian.
Fernandez learned that quickly, too. Eala got a break in the second game of the opening set and was in top flight immediately. It was the more accomplished Canadian who had to find her footing quickly or be swept off the court. She did begin to hold serve more confidently, but couldn't make inroads when the Filipina was trying to do the same.
Alex Eala bests Leylah Fernandez at the 2026 Citi Open
At the end of the set, Fernandez, who won the Canadian Masters in 2025, couldn't even hold serve and dropped the set 2-6. She was facing a player in top form, but Alex Eala didn't appear to be playing above her skill set. She was simply playing her best, and that could be a scary level for the rest of the WTA.
To begin the second set, however, a stunning change occurred. It was Eala who couldn't hold serve, and Fernandez was dictating points and play. The match seemed certain to head to a third and final set as the Filipina also appeared to be struggling with her conditioning a bit.
Eala fell to 1-5, but then just as quickly as the beginnong of the second set narrative had appeared to change what the first set implied, the Filipina changed the course of set two. She reeled off five straight games through brilliant movement and pressing Fernandez into the corners. She led 6-5 with Fernandez hoping to hold serve to force a tie-break, which she did at love.
Alex Eala then took the tie-break easily, coming back from well down in the second set to once again show her toughness. She took the tie-breaker 7-1 and moved into the quarterfinals.
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