By Emille Blanc
MANILA — Fresh off another breakthrough, Alexandra “Alex” Eala barely has time to pause and take it all in.
The 21-year-old Filipina tennis star earned US$33,650 (around ₱2 million) after winning the WTA 125 Birmingham Open, where she overcame Czech rising talent Nikola Bartunkova in a tight three-set final, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
The victory not only secured her second WTA 125 crown but also ended a 13-match losing streak against Czech opponents. It also pushed her up to World No. 33—just four places away from her career-best ranking of No. 29.
Despite the achievement, celebration was brief. Less than 24 hours after lifting the trophy in Birmingham, Eala was already back in action at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London as she builds momentum for Wimbledon, set from June 29 to July 12.
She was scheduled to face China’s Shuai Zhang, a seasoned competitor and former World No. 22 in singles and World No. 2 in doubles. While rankings favor Eala, Zhang brings experience and pedigree as a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion.
The Queen’s Club Championships, one of the oldest grass-court events in tennis history dating back to 1889, serves as a key preparation ground for Wimbledon. Eala entered the main draw as a late replacement following the withdrawals of Jessica Pegula and Hailey Baptiste, with former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova also among the alternates.
Looking back on her Birmingham triumph, Eala stayed composed and reflective.
“It’s one of those days where a little bit of luck and intention was what got me through,” she said, adding that she remains focused on continuing her hard work.
Her celebration was modest—just a late-night sandwich at her hotel before heading off to London.
The Queen’s Club field features top names including World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, World No. 5 Amanda Anisimova, World No. 11 Belinda Bencic, and close tour friend Marta Kostyuk.
Eala is also expected to draw support from the growing Filipino fanbase in London, something she often acknowledges with appreciation, saying, “I like to say home is a people, not a place.”
Beyond Queen’s, another milestone awaits as she teams up with former World No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams at the WTA 500 Bad Homburg Open in Germany from June 21 to 27—a high-profile pairing that has sparked excitement among fans.
For Eala, the message remains the same: the climb continues, one tournament at a time.
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