Eala to get highest seeding at Cincinnati Open

Alexandra Eala is doing what top tennis players ­­– as world No 20 she can now legitimately claim to be one – can only dream of during a busy hard-court season leading to the US Open.

She first decided to let her hair down in Toronto for a haircut and a manicure session following her Round of 16 defeat. And now she is busy meeting up with her friends in Cincinnati and having some fun away from the court.

The 21-year-old Filipina is a huge draw wherever she plays and it is not just because of her likeable persona. Her historic win at the Mubadala DC Open has pushed her ranking to uncharted territory and she is expected to be seeded 17th at the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, another high in a career already filled with so many highs.

The WTA on Tuesday released the players' list with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka earning the top seed followed by Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva.

Eala’s seeding will ensure a first-round bye, giving her even more time to recover from fatigue and a sore ankle ahead of the August 13-23 tournament.

Interestingly, Eala is currently ranked 14th in the WTA Race Standings, with the top 8 players vying for the WTA Finals in November. It is a tall ask to expect her to get there, but stranger things have happened.

A favourable draw in Cincinnati will help Eala go deeper than in Toronto and will thereby boost her ranking even further ahead of the US Open and having already reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, the possibilities are endless.