Joselito Malig

Article (news)

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<p>Filipina tennis queen Alex Eala turned emotional after becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA Tour final. </p><p>Eala outlasted a gritty Varvara Gracheva of France, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, in the semifinal of the 2025 Eastbourne Open on Friday (Manila time).</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2025/6/27/tennis-alex-eala-ousts-varvara-gracheva-marches-to-eastbourne-open-finals-2039"><strong>READ: Tennis: Alex Eala ousts Varvara Gracheva, marches to Eastbourne Open finals<br/></strong></a></div><p>After making the final point that gave her the breakthrough final appearance, Eala did not hold back, shouting in pride of her newest feat and a satisfaction on overcoming a resolute French rival.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m like, super, super happy because that was a tough match,&quot; a teary-eyed Eala said in the on-court interview.</p><p>&quot;There were really tough moments when she [Gracheva] was playing well and I sometimes didn’t know how to get hold of it, so I’m really happy with winning,&quot; she added while shaking off her tears, taking it all in.</p><p>Eala relished her chance of playing Gracheva, who also came from the qualifying, adding that her patience paid off as she &quot;waited&quot; for the chance to strike back.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/6/27/tennis-alex-eala-jumps-to-no-64-in-wta-live-rankings-1552"><strong>READ: Tennis: Alex Eala jumps to No. 64 in WTA live rankings<br/></strong></a></div><p>Eala first led 3-1 in the third set, but Gracheva stormed back by tying in the third game, 3-3, enduring multiple deuces.</p><p>But composure and patience were there for the Filipina star, winning three straight games to take out the French pride.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/6/26/tennis-alex-eala-outclasses-dayana-yastremska-advances-to-eastbourne-semis-2314"><strong>READ: Tennis: Alex Eala outclasses Dayana Yastremska, advances to Eastbourne semis<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;It was a challenge for both of us, physically and mentally. We both came from quali, and she’s a really solid player,&quot; Eala expressed.</p><p>&quot;She had some moments where she was really dominating, so the fact I was able to stay there and wait for my opportunity is a big achievement for me today.&quot;</p><p>Eala, with the championship on the line, will battle the winner of the semifinal match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Maya Joint.</p><p>She is also expected to reach another career-high in WTA rankings following her recent triumph.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BE6XZALgSCE??si=ySxgEUAyMy4EQtNP&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5euXXnSYiU??si=Vf0BTH7XaJKj2JLD&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Filipina tennis queen Alex Eala turned emotional after becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA Tour final.</p>

Filipina tennis queen Alex Eala turned emotional after becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA Tour final.

'I'm super, super happy': Alex Eala on cloud nine after reaching first-ever WTA Tour final

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'I'm super, super happy': Alex Eala on cloud nine after reaching first-ever WTA Tour final

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 27, 2025 09:33 PM PHT

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