For the third consecutive match, Alexandra Eala was pushed to a deciding set. And for the third consecutive time, the 20-year-old Filipina emerged on the winning side, defeating American Caty McNally to reach the fourth round of the National Bank Open in Toronto on Friday night.
Playing in front of an electric Centre Court crowd packed with Filipino fans waving flags, Eala overcame a slow start and an early break deficit to take the opening set 6-3. The second set was far tighter, with both players exchanging two service breaks before Eala broke again to move ahead 5-4 and serve for the match.
McNally, however, had other ideas. The American responded with a spirited comeback, winning three consecutive games to claim the second set 7-5 and force a decider. Eala quickly regained control, breaking at her first opportunity in the third set to build a 2-0 lead and maintaining that advantage the rest of the way for a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory in 2 hours, 39 minutes.