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(2nd UPDATE) Filipina tennis star Alex Eala was in full control of her Cincinnati Open second-round match against Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 6-1 3-0, before play was suspended and Ruse retired due to medical reason.
Eala came out aggressively from the start.
After Ruse dropped a 30-0 lead—including a double fault at 15-30—Eala ripped a forehand winner to earn a break point and level at 1-1.
She then held comfortably with ultra-aggressive ball striking to move ahead, 2-1.
The sweltering humidity sitting at 80 percent did nothing to slow Eala down.
She attacked Ruse’s second serve from about two feet inside the baseline, ripping forehand return winners to break for 3-1.
She continued to pull away to 4-1, then 5-1, hitting with confidence, precision, and rhythm.
Eala closed out the first set 6-1, winning five consecutive games.
The second set followed the same pattern as Eala jumped to a 3-0 lead before the match was suspended for safety due to lightning.
Ruse, who asked for a medical break before the match was suspended, later retired from the match, handing Eala a walkover win.
The 28-year-old Romanian, ranked world No. 74, had no answers for Eala’s pace and precision throughout the opener.
Eala will next face Amanda Anisimova, who beat Zeynep Sonmez, 6-2, 6-3