Eala Claims Birmingham Open Title in Thrilling Three-Set Comeback

Sports | Tennis Posted on 2026-06-08 05:52:47

MANILA – Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala captured the Birmingham Open crown after rallying past Czech fifth seed Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in a gripping final on Sunday at the Edgbaston Priory Club in the United Kingdom.

The victory marked Eala’s second WTA 125 title, following her triumph at the Guadalajara Open in Mexico earlier this year, and her first championship on grass courts.

Reflecting on the tense final moments of the match, Eala said determination and composure helped her secure the win.

“It was a really tight moment and I knew that if I didn’t go for it, Nikki would go for it,” Eala said. “It’s one of those days where a little bit of luck and intention was what got me through.”

Eala and Bartunkova also partnered in the doubles competition but fell in the opening round to the British tandem of Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9.

On her path to the singles title, Eala defeated Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in the semifinals before advancing to the championship match. She earlier dispatched Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.

Eala has enjoyed previous success against Sawangkaew, having beaten the Thai player 6-1, 6-2 in the women’s singles final of the Southeast Asian Games, ending the Philippines’ 26-year gold medal drought in the event.

Her opening-round victories in Birmingham came against Australia’s Priscilla Hon, 6-0, 6-2, and Russia’s Alina Charaeva, 6-2, 7-5.

Bartunkova, meanwhile, reached the final after overcoming Dart, compatriot Gabriela Knutson, Britain’s Mika Stojsavljevic, and American Ashlyn Krueger in a series of hard-fought matches.

The Birmingham Open triumph further boosts Eala’s growing reputation on the international circuit as she continues her impressive 2025 campaign.

NPO News Team I PNA-PR

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