Camille Naredo

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala faces Japan's Himeno Sakatsume in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open Round of 16 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila on January 28, 2026.

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala faces Japan's Himeno Sakatsume in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open Round of 16 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila on January 28, 2026. Eala booked a spot in the quarterfinals after beating Sakatsume 6-4, 6-0. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178084295432320260128-tennis-wta125-ph-r16-eala-sakatsume-JC0761.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Filipina tennis star Alex Eala at the WTA 125 Philippine Women&#x27;s Open, January 28, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipina tennis star Alex Eala at the WTA 125 Philippine Women&#x27;s Open, January 28, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- Filipina tennis star Alex Eala secured her first title of the season with a dramatic victory over Nikola Bartůňková of the Czech Republic on Sunday.</p><p>Eala overcame her former doubles partner in a three-set marathon, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, to rule the Birmingham Open.</p><p>This is Eala&#x27;s second WTA 125 crown, and her first championship of the year. </p><p>It was a hard-earned win for Eala, the top seed in the tournament, who also claimed a personal breakthrough with her first victory over a Czech opponent on tour. Prior to the match, she had been 0-12 against Czech players.</p><p>&quot;Lifting this trophy does not mean I will be among the greats yet,&quot; said Eala, after being told that tennis icons including Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitová were among the previous winners of the competition.</p><p>&quot;So I&#x27;m motivated to keep working. I&#x27;m grateful for the part that this trophy has played in my journey,&quot; she added.</p><p>Eala eased to a 5-3 advantage in the deciding set, looking poised to claim the match and the title in the ensuing game.</p><p>But Bartůňková showed tremendous grit in holding for a 5-4 count, then broke Eala to love to knot the count at 5-5.</p><p>Eala returned the favor in the 11th game, racing to a 40-0 lead before a Bartůňková forehand got her on the board. The Czech dumped her next shot into the net, however, putting Eala on the brink of victory anew.</p><p>Neither player gave an inch in the 12th and final game, with Bartůňková earning a break point off an Eala error. But the Filipina forced a deuce with a strong serve, and Bartůňková sent another hit to the net to put Eala at championship point. When Bartůňková fired her next hit long, Eala raised her arms after claiming victory in the two-hour, 37-minute marathon.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;d like to thank Nikola for the kind words, and of course  congratulate her for an amazing week,&quot; said Eala. &quot;It&#x27;s one of those days I wish we could both win. This match was incredible, I think it was anyone&#x27;s game.&quot;</p><p>The finalists had traded holds in the opening set for Bartůňková finally broke Eala in the 11th game for a pivotal 6-5 advantage. She battled through two deuces before securing the opener, serving out despite a spirited volley from Eala in the closing stages.</p><p>But Eala roared back in the second set, holding for a 3-2 lead and then breaking Bartůňková for a decisive 4-2 advantage. They exchanged love holds but Eala remained in control at 5-3, and the Filipina held again to ensure that the match would go to a deciding frame.</p><p>Up next for Eala is the Queen&#x27;s Club Championships, where she will play a qualifier in the main draw.</p><div><strong>-- with a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xd1EbsFFCpU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Filipina tennis star Alex Eala secured her first title of the season with a dramatic victory over Nikola Bartůňková of the Czech Republic on Sunday.</p>

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala secured her first title of the season with a dramatic victory over Nikola Bartůňková of the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Tennis: Eala rules Birmingham Open after thrilling win vs. Bartůňková

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Tennis: Eala rules Birmingham Open after thrilling win vs. Bartůňková

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 07, 2026 10:13 PM PHT

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Updated June 07, 2026 10:40 PM PHT

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tennis

Birmingham Open

Alex Eala

Nikola Bartůňková

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