Alex Eala showed resilience under pressure as she defeated American Caty McNally in three sets to secure a place in the fourth round of the Canadian Open in Toronto.

Eala prevailed, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, in a marathon match at Sobeys Stadium that lasted two hours and 39 minutes.

The Filipino ace had to overcome more than just her opponent. She lost control of a second-set lead and required treatment after hurting her right ankle in a fall, but managed to regroup and finish strongly.

Eala led 5-4 in the second set with an opportunity to serve for the match. McNally, however, took advantage of Eala’s mistakes and leveled the contest before forcing a deciding set.

The American then broke Eala in the 12th game to send the match into a third set.

Eala wasted little time reasserting herself. She broke McNally in the opening game of the decider and gradually built a 5-3 cushion.

McNally held serve to stay alive, but Eala held her nerve in the next game. Two misplaced forehands from the American ended the contest and allowed the Filipina to celebrate another major win on the WTA 1000 stage.

“I think survived that one. It was so tough,” Eala said afterward.

She also praised McNally for making the match highly competitive and acknowledged that small moments ultimately determined the result.

Eala’s ankle injury did not prevent her from completing the match. After receiving treatment, she returned to the court and continued competing.

The Filipina also expressed appreciation for the Filipino fans who once again filled the venue with support.

“To play in front of you guys, it’s amazing,” Eala said. “The motivation to come here and play another match, everything just becomes so much more emotional.”

Eala, ranked No. 20 in the world, will now face a tougher challenge in the round of 16 against 12th-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

Bencic advanced after outlasting Taylor Townsend of the United States, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, in a match that stretched to three hours and 24 minutes.

Elsewhere, world No. 2 Elena Rybakina continued her campaign by defeating Ann Li of the United States, 6-2, 7-5.

Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion and 2022 Wimbledon winner, will meet Liudmila Samsonova in the next round.

Canadian Leylah Fernandez also produced a major upset, eliminating fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva, 6-1, 6-4.

Fernandez earned a meeting with Naomi Osaka after the Japanese 11th seed defeated 20th-seeded Elise Mertens, 6-1, 6-2.

Fourth-seeded American Coco Gauff likewise advanced, beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari, 6-1, 6-4.