Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s Birmingham Open WTA 125 title, secured with a three-set victory over Czech player Nikola Bartunkova, gives the Filipina added momentum ahead of Wimbledon. (Photo courtesy of Alex Eala/Instagram)
Top-seeded Filipina overcomes a set deficit against Czech rising star Nikola Bartunkova to capture the WTA 125 grass-court championship in England.
LONDON — Alexandra “Alex” Eala added another milestone to her growing résumé on Sunday, June 7, rallying from a set down to defeat Czech fifth seed Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, and capture the Lexus Birmingham Open title at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, England.
The victory gave Eala her second career WTA 125 singles title.
Eala entered the tournament as the top seed and highest-ranked player in the field. The Birmingham Open, a grass-court event in the weeks preceding Wimbledon, carried a total purse of $225,000 and attracted several players ranked inside the world’s top 100.
The championship match tested Eala’s patience and adaptability. Bartunkova took the opening set and appeared poised to seize control, but Eala gradually shifted the momentum with steadier serving, disciplined baseline play and timely point construction in longer rallies.
After taking the second set, Eala held firm through a tight decider, secured the decisive break and served out the championship.
The title capped a demanding week for Eala. Less than 24 hours earlier, she had defeated Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in a rain-interrupted semifinal that featured multiple delays and stretched deep into the evening.
Rather than fading physically after that late match, Eala returned Sunday and produced another three-set victory under pressure.
The final also carried an unusual subplot. Eala and Bartunkova had partnered in doubles earlier in the week before their campaign ended in the opening round. Days later, they met again with the singles title at stake.
Grass courts demand a distinct skill set, rewarding players who adjust quickly to lower bounces, faster points and changing conditions. Throughout the week, Eala showed the versatility and composure required on the surface, winning five singles matches and overcoming multiple tests along the way.
