Belinda Bencic received praise for her kind words to the Filipino crowd after beating Alex Eala at the Canadian Open.
Belinda Bencic earned lots of praise for what she said to the fans at the Canadian Open after beating Alex Eala in Toronto.
Bencic, who was the 12th seed in the tournament, played really well and won 6-4, 6-0. The Swiss number one showed great skill with her shots and handled a comeback attempt by 21-year-old Philippines star Eala in the first set, especially after Eala had leveled the score at 4-4 on a break point.
After that, Bencic won eight games in a row, securing her spot in the quarter-finals, where she will face two-time Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff. Bencic, the Olympic women’s singles champ and 2015 Canadian Open winner, knows Toronto well. Winning here again will make her a big contender to watch as the US Open starts later this month.
Eala had a lot of fan support all through Toronto. Her second-round match against Alycia Parks sold out quickly after the time was announced. One food vendor even changed their menu because so many Filipino fans showed up. Other players have also praised the amazing support Eala has had during the tournament.
Bencic was warm and friendly after her win on Sunday night. She thanked the crowd and said it felt really nice to play in front of them, even though most were cheering for Eala.
“I know most of you were cheering for Alex, but I still want to say it was very nice to play in front of you all,” she said in her on-court interview. “Thank you so much for a great crowd tonight. And thanks to those who cheered for me too. It was wonderful to play here tonight.
“It’s really special to win with my family and daughter watching. I’m happy for all the moms doing well—we all inspire each other. But on court, we just focus on playing our best. It’s great to make memories with family while on tour, but when I play, I just try to play tennis.”
After losing to Bencic, Eala stayed positive in her press conference. She said she would rest and get ready for the Cincinnati Open, where she might play her first match on Monday.
“It was a tough match today—Belinda made it really hard for me. She played very well,” Eala said. “Overall, it’s been a great week. I’m super happy with how far I’ve gotten. I’ll rest up and come back stronger.
“The atmosphere here has been amazing all week. It’s hard to explain what it feels like to play in that stadium with such great fans. I’m so grateful for my experience in Toronto; it’s been a fantastic debut. I’ll keep these memories for a long time.
“I’ve learned the fans here are very passionate and kind. Toronto’s so multicultural—many cultures, personalities, and passions coming together through tennis. For example, the Filipino community showed up for me, the Turkish fans came to support Zeynep Sonmez, and hometown heroes had strong crowds too. It’s been an amazing experience.”