Danielle Collins and Steve Johnson offer contrasting views ahead of Eala vs Bencic: "She's going to win a lot of those points today"
WTASunday, 09 August 2026 at 21:00
Alexandra Eala will face Belinda Bencic in the fourth round of the 2026 Canadian Open, with former world No. 8 Danielle Collins and former world No. 19 Steve Johnson offering contrasting perspectives on the WTA 1000 clash. Collins has been particularly impressed by Eala’s emergence and the support surrounding her, while Johnson has identified a specific area of the matchup that could favor Bencic.
Collins, who is currently taking a break from professional tennis while working as a Tennis Channel analyst, has embraced the phenomenon surrounding Eala. The former Australian Open finalist and Miami Open champion highlighted the Filipino support at Eala’s matches and described the atmosphere as a special moment for tennis culture. Johnson, meanwhile, focused on Eala’s second serve and Bencic’s potential to attack it.
Eala enters the last-16 contest with seven consecutive hard-court victories. She won her first WTA 500 title at the DC Open last week, defeating Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula in succession before continuing her run in Toronto. The Filipina has since defeated Alycia Parks and Caty McNally in three-set matches to reach the fourth round.
Bencic has taken a more difficult route through Toronto, defeating Sloane Stephens before recovering from a set down against Taylor Townsend. The Swiss won 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 and will now meet Eala for the first time. Bencic is also playing her first hard-court tournament since Wimbledon, adding another element to a matchup that has attracted attention from two former top-20 players.
Collins backs Eala as Eala Mania grows
Collins has followed Eala’s rise closely during her work in television and focused heavily on the support the Filipina has received from fans. The American has a personal connection to the Philippines through one of her closest friends and highlighted the growing presence of Filipino supporters at Eala’s matches.
“I'm really loving Alexandra Eala. One of my closest friends is Filipino. Just seeing this wave of Filipinos in tennis and all of the fans that are coming out to these matches, this is a really special moment for tennis culture.”
Alex Eala won the WTA 125 Birmingham title and WTA 500 DC Open title in the last 6 weeks.
Collins then expanded on the atmosphere surrounding Eala and the enthusiasm that has followed the 21-year-old during her recent breakthrough. “I'm loving Eala Mania. I'm right. I want the Filipinos to adopt me in,” she added. “Her game speaks for itself, but also, yeah, the fans, I just think they bring such good energy.”
The American also praised the conduct and enthusiasm of Eala’s supporters, noting that their presence has added another dimension to the matches.
“Even though they're rooting for Eala, I think their presence and, you know, they're kind to kind of everyone. They just love tennis. They love the game and they're there to just offer their great energy.”
Eala’s results have provided plenty of substance behind the attention. Her DC Open title included three consecutive victories over top-15 opponents, while her two Toronto wins have extended her current hard-court streak to seven matches.
Johnson identifies Bencic’s chance against Eala
Johnson approached the matchup from a different angle, focusing on the difficulty opponents can face when attempting to attack Eala’s second serve. The former world No. 19 believes Bencic’s return game could allow her to capitalize on that part of the matchup.
“So this is going to be an interesting matchup because, you know, sometimes it is difficult for the players to really attack the Eala second serve," the American former top-20 said. “It's lefty, comes in with that tough spin, but Bencic, the way she has gone about her business, I think she's going to win a lot of those points today and do it in emphatic fashion.”
Eala won six of her last eight matches against top-20 opponents
Bencic has already shown resilience during her Canadian Open campaign. After defeating Stephens in her opening match, she dropped the first-set tiebreak against Townsend but recovered to win the second-set tiebreak before taking the deciding set 6-4. The result marked her second victory of the tournament and put her into the fourth round.
Eala has also had to navigate three-set matches in Toronto, defeating Parks 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 and McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. There is no previous head-to-head between the pair, making this their first competitive meeting.
The winner will advance to the Canadian Open quarterfinals. Eala will attempt to extend her seven-match hard-court streak and continue the momentum generated by her Washington title, while Bencic will look to build on her comeback against Townsend. Collins has highlighted the wider phenomenon surrounding Eala, while Johnson has identified the second serve as an area where Bencic could make the difference.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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