Alex Eala wins her first WTA title on grass in Birmingham

08.06.2026

RNA Editorial.

A new milestone for Alex Eala in her short but brilliant professional career. The Rafa Nadal Academy player has been crowned champion of the Birmingham Open, a WTA 125 tournament where she was the top seed, after staging a great comeback in the final against Czech player Nikola Bartunkova 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

This title, the second title of her career after winning in Guadalajara, also marks her first career title on grass and confirms the excellent form of the player trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy. The success comes after a solid start to the season in which she has posted outstanding results at some of the most important tournaments on the circuit. Eala reached the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, as well as the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, one of the most prestigious events on the WTA calendar.

At 21 years old, Alex Eala continues to make history for Filipino tennis. Thanks to the consistency shown in recent months and the points earned in Birmingham, the player currently ranks No. 33 in the WTA rankings, just four spots shy of her career-high ranking to date (March 16, 2026).

After winning the title, Eala was asked about the tournament’s prestigious list of champions, which includes historic names such as Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Maria Sharapova, and Petra Kvitová. The Rafa Nadal Academy player expressed gratitude for the achievement, though she made it clear that her goal remains to continue growing on the circuit:

“Lifting this trophy doesn’t mean I’m already among the greats of tennis. That’s why I remain motivated to keep working. I’m very grateful for the role this trophy has played in my career and in my growth as a player.”