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Alex Eala wins WTA 125 Birmingham Open title after outlasting Nikola Bartunkova in thriller
Alexandra “Alex” Eala won the WTA 125 Birmingham Open title after outlasting Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in a thrilling final.
After dropping a tightly contested first set, Eala responded with a dominant showing in the second. The Filipina raced to a 5-2 advantage before Bartunkova pulled one game back, but Eala held firm to force a deciding third set.
Bartunkova took an early 2-1 lead in the final set, but Eala answered with three straight games to move ahead, 4-2. The Czech player continued to fight back, eventually leveling the set at 5-5. Eala then won the next game to move within one game of the championship before sealing the victory in a tense final game.
With the triumph, Eala joins a distinguished list of Birmingham champions that includes Billie Jean King, Maria Sharapova, and Ash Barty.
"It sounds really beautiful, of course. All those names that you've mentioned are tennis greats, and I'm so honored to be lifting this trophy today," Eala said after the match.
"But lifting this trophy does not mean that I will be among the greats yet, so I'm motivated to keep working, and I'm grateful for the part that this trophy has played in my journey."
Eala also expressed her gratitude to her supporters, including the Filipinos who cheered her on from the stands.
"Mga kababayan, maraming salamat sa suporta."
The Birmingham crown marks Eala's second WTA 125 title, following her breakthrough championship run in Guadalajara in September last year.
HIGHLIGHTS | Eala vs Bartunkova -- Birmingham Open Finals
Season recap
Clay-court swing
- French Open (Grand Slam) — Round of 128
- Italian Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 32
- Madrid Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 64
- Stuttgart Open (WTA 500) — Round of 32
- Linz Open (WTA 500) — Round of 16
Sunshine Swing
- Miami Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 16
- Indian Wells Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 16
Middle East Swing
- Dubai Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) — Quarterfinals
- Qatar Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 64
- Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) — Quarterfinals
Philippine Women’s Open (WTA 125) — Quarterfinals
Australian Swing
- Australian Open (Grand Slam) — Round of 128
- ASB Classic (WTA 250) — Semifinals
—JKC, GMA News
