By MARK REY MONTEJO
Alex Eala has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open as she suffered a shoulder injury, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced on its website Wednesday, July 30.
The 20-year-old Eala, who is set for her much-awaited U.S. Open main draw debut in late August, reportedly sustained an injury which halted her participation in the final WTA1000 hard-court event before the opening of the New York-based Grand Slam meet.
“Alexandra Eala has withdrawn from next month’s Cincinnati Open with a shoulder injury,” the WTA wrote in its statement.
With the development, the current world No. 65 will be replaced by Mexican Renata Zarazua in the main draw of the oldest tennis tournament in the United States.
There, reigning champion and No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka banners the field alongside Americans Coco Gauff, Jessica Pagula, Madison Keys, and the 45-year-old Venus Williams, who received a wild card, Polish Iga Swiatek, Fil-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, and Australian Maya Joint, to name a few.
Eala suffered an early exit in the National Bank Open in Montreal, Canada after losing to 2023 Wimbledon champion Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
“Pretty in pink. Montreal was a short but sweet trip. I had so much fun out on court! Time to rest and recover,” Eala penned on her Instagram post.
