Filipino tennis star claims second WTA 125 title, cements status as one of Asia’s rising forces on the global stage
By Samantha Yu
MANILA — Alexandra Eala showcased grit, composure, and championship resolve as she rallied from a set down to defeat Czech challenger Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, and seize the Birmingham Open title Sunday night at the Edgbaston Priory Club in the United Kingdom.
The hard-fought victory handed the Filipino ace her second WTA 125 championship, following her breakthrough triumph at the Guadalajara Open in Mexico last year. It also marked her first career title on grass, a major confidence boost ahead of the prestigious Wimbledon Championships.
Locked in a tense battle that lasted nearly three hours, Eala delivered in the clutch during the decisive third set, surviving crucial break-point threats before closing out the match.
“It was a really tight moment and I knew that if I didn’t go for it, Nikki would go for it,” Eala said after the victory. “It’s one of those days where a little bit of luck and intention was what got me through.”
The tournament’s top seed fought through a challenging draw en route to the crown. She opened her campaign with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Priscilla Hon before overcoming Russia’s Alina Charaeva, 6-2, 7-5, in the next round.
Eala then powered past Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinals before outlasting Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in a grueling semifinal encounter.
Her triumph over Sawangkaew carried added significance, as Eala had also defeated the Thai standout in the gold-medal match of the Southeast Asian Games last December, ending the Philippines’ 26-year drought in women’s singles tennis.
Ironically, Eala and Bartunkova were doubles partners earlier in the tournament but bowed out in the opening round after falling to British tandem Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9.
Bartunkova entered the final in impressive form, having knocked off several strong opponents, including Gabriela Knutson, Mika Stojsavljevic, and American Ashlyn Krueger.
But on championship day, it was Eala who stood tallest, adding another milestone to her rapidly growing career and further strengthening her bid to become one of the Philippines’ greatest tennis players.
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