Dennis Gaviola

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Dyan Castillejo

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala looks ahead to a familiar next opponent from Thailand at the Birmingham Open.The 21-year old walked off the Birmingham Open court with a 6-2, 7-5 win — and with a lot to feel good about, especially in how she handled the scare in the second set.“I think I’m pleased with my attitude,” she said after the match.“I was definitely in a tough spot in the second set, but I’m most proud that I stayed in there, followed my intensity again, and ultimately gave myself another chance to do better tomorrow.”Down 2-5 in the second, Eala said she trusted herself to turn it around rather than panic.“I knew that even if it went to the third set, I had the level, so I tried to make it as complicated for her to win the second as well.”She ended up winning five of the last seven games to close it out without needing that third set.On playing on grass, Eala was candid, saying: “I really like grass, but there’s some getting used to — England also has particular weather.”Still, she sees the conditions as part of the growth process. “It all helps you become a stronger player. There are things you can’t control, and you just have to deal with them.”Up next for Eala is Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew which is a match-up with history on both sides.Sawankaew is a qualifier who bested Kayla Day 6-4, 6-1 to storm into the quarterfinals. She has won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, including 2 from qualifying to advance.Their only previous WTA Tour meeting came on hard court at Takasaki in 2024, where Sawangkaew came from a set down to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. On paper, that result might give the Thai player some confidence as a player ranked WTA No. 173 with a career high of No. 100 reached in June 2025.But the more recent chapter belongs to Eala: at the 2025 SEA Games gold medal match, Eala defeated Sawangkaew 6-1, 6-2 in straight sets to end a 26-year gold medal drought for the Philippines in women’s singles tennis.

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala looks ahead to a familiar next opponent from Thailand at the Birmingham Open.

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala looks ahead to a familiar next opponent from Thailand at the Birmingham Open.

Eala set for rematch vs SEA Games finalist in Birmingham Open

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Eala set for rematch vs SEA Games finalist in Birmingham Open

Dyan Castillejo

Published June 05, 2026 01:05 AM PHT

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Alex Eala

Birmingham Open

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