Alex Eala's bid for another top-10 victory has come up short, as world No. 10 Amanda Anisimova rallied past the Filipina, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the Round of 16 of the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio, on Monday (Tuesday, PST).
The loss ended Eala's run in Cincinnati and denied her a 10th career victory over a top-10 opponent.
Eala, 21, had recorded seven of her nine top-10 wins this season, but she could not close out Anisimova in their first meeting on the WTA Tour.
Anisimova paid tribute to Eala after winning the final six games of the match to claim victory.
"I know Alex is such a great player and such a fighter," she said.
"I knew it was gonna be a really tough match. There was quite a bit of support for me tonight so I really appreciate that, because I know how loved Alex is... and for good reason.
"But I really appreciated it because I felt like I needed a pick me up in this match,"
Both players held serve through the first four games, albeit Eala earned a break point in the fourth before the American held firm.
The fifth game turned into a marathon service battle, lasting 20 minutes and 11 seconds and featuring 13 deuces. Anisimova had eight break-point opportunities, but Eala repeatedly fended off the pressure to lead 3-2. The Filipina had two break points of her own in the sixth game, only for Anisimova to level the set at 3-3.
Anisimova finally broke through in the seventh game, breaking Eala at love to seize the first real advantage of the set, at 4-3, but the Filipina responded with a three-game surge that showcased her trademark resilience. She broke back immediately in the eighth game before holding serve to regain the lead, then applied more pressure on Anisimova's serve in the 10th to close out the set.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players holding serve through the first six games before Anisimova claimed the first break of the set to move ahead 4-3.
This time, however, the American consolidated the break with a hold in the eighth game, putting herself within two games of the match at 5-3. The solitary break proved the difference and the former world No. 3 forced the match to a decider.
Eala made a great start to the third set, holding serve in the first game then breaking to lead 2-0, but Anisimova broke back and won the next five games to take to take the set 6-2 and claim the victory.