Filipina star outlasts Bartunkova in three-set thriller to capture second WTA 125 crown
By Jean Manuel
MANILA — Alexandra Eala delivered another statement performance on the international stage, fighting from behind to defeat Czech fifth seed Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, and win the Birmingham Open crown Sunday night at the Edgbaston Priory Club in the United Kingdom.
The victory marked a breakthrough moment for the World No. 37, who secured her first-ever grass-court title while adding a second WTA 125 trophy to her growing resume.
Eala showed remarkable composure under pressure, especially in the final set where she held firm against multiple tense exchanges before sealing the win in dramatic fashion.
“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.”
The top seed’s path to the title was marked by consistent dominance and resilience. She opened with a commanding win over Australia’s Priscilla Hon, 6-0, 6-2, before edging Russia’s Alina Charaeva, 6-2, 7-5.
She then cruised past Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinals before surviving a tough semifinal battle against Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
The triumph over Sawangkaew echoed their previous clash in the Southeast Asian Games final, where Eala also prevailed to end the Philippines’ long gold-medal drought in women’s tennis.
In an ironic twist, Eala and Bartunkova were doubles partners earlier in the same tournament but exited in the first round after a narrow loss to British duo Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9.
Bartunkova, meanwhile, impressed throughout the event with victories over Gabriela Knutson, Mika Stojsavljevic, and Ashlyn Krueger before falling just short in the final.
Eala’s latest triumph further strengthens her rise in the global tennis scene, positioning her as one of Asia’s most promising young stars heading into the grass-court swing.
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