Alex Eala Rules the WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open 2026

June 08, 2026•2 min read

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom — In a final that felt as emotional as it was electric, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala rose above every surge of pressure to claim the 2026 Lexus Birmingham Open (WTA 125) title, outlasting Czech prodigy Nikola Bartunkova in a gripping 5–7, 6–3, 7–5 victory.

What unfolded on the Ann Jones Centre Court was more than a championship match — it was a test of nerve, resilience, and heart. Over two hours and 38 minutes, Eala and Bartunkova pushed each other to the edge, trading momentum in a contest where no lead ever felt safe.

Eala looked poised early, holding a 5–4 advantage, but Bartunkova refused to blink. The Czech fifth seed swept the next three games, punishing Eala’s brief dip in first‑serve accuracy to steal the opener, 7–5. It was a reminder that this final would not be won easily.

What makes Eala special is how quickly she can reset. In the second set, she tightened her serve, dropping just six points behind it. A well‑timed break at 3–2 shifted the rhythm, and from there she dictated the rallies with calm, measured aggression. The match was suddenly level — and very much alive finishing 6-3.

The decider was a heart‑pounding exchange of willpower. Eala saved three break points early, refusing to surrender ground. She surged ahead 5–4, only for Bartunkova to break her to love, tying the set at 5–5. Eala broke right back for 6–5, showing the grit of a player who simply refused to fold. Serving for the title, she faced three more break points — and saved them all.

When Bartunkova’s final ball drifted long, Eala dropped her shoulders in relief and triumph. It was a finish worthy of a champion.

Every game felt like a turning point. Bartunkova generated 31 pressure points, but Eala saved 19 of them, a statistic that tells the story of her poise in the biggest moments.

This victory marks a milestone for Eala as this is her first grass‑court title and her second WTA 125 crown.

“Pinakamahirap ang laban sa finals. Magaling na competitor si Nikola at kaibigan ko rin siya,” Eala told TFCN.

“It was super tough. Nikola played very well. Alex was more aggressive during the second and the third (set). It was good,’ said Eala’s coach Alexandro Viaene.

Eala now heads to London for the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, carrying not just momentum — but the confidence of a player who knows she can win tight matches on the sport’s trickiest surface.

‘Gusto lang magpasalamat sa walang kupas na suporta,” said Eala when asked what she wanted to tell her fans and supporters.