Unfazed by the rain interruptions that repeatedly stalled the deciding set, Alex Eala dug deep and outlasted Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to storm into the final of the WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open on June 6.
The top-seeded Filipina weathered two lengthy delays in the semifinal clash and proved that her mental fortitude matches her lethal baseline game as she survived a rollercoaster semifinal that felt more like a test of patience than a tennis match.
The deciding set became a battlefield of momentum, with Eala seizing an early lead only for a relentless Masarova to roar right back and knot the score at 2-all.
Just as Eala regained her footing, the British skies closed up to force the players off the court for the first time.
Returning with ice in her veins, the Pinay star battled intensely to break Masarova before extending her cushion to a commanding 5-2 advantage.
Then, the heavens broke again, forcing an agonizing two-hour delay that threatened to derail Eala’s momentum.
When the tarp was finally removed, Masarova showed incredible grit by holding her serve to put the pressure squarely back across the net.
Eala stared down a 0-30 deficit in the final game but responded with consecutive forehand winners to steady herself. The world No. 37 inched closer to the final after drawing an error from Masarova to set up match point.
Stepping up to serve for the match, Eala overcame a late wobble by drawing consecutive errors from Masarova that handed her the deciding set, 6-3, to finally seal the exhausting victory.
“I’m really happy with the win today, to be in my first final of the year in Birmingham. It was such a great experience,” Eala said after the match. “It was such a tough battle today. Rebeka played really well and put me in some tough spots.”
Earlier, Eala seized the initiative from the opening set, breaking Masarova early and dictating the rallies with aggressive shot-making from both wings to claim a convincing 6-2 advantage.
The Swiss player retaliated in the second frame, leaning on her powerful serve and penetrating groundstrokes to wrest momentum away from the Filipina and level the match at one set apiece, 6-4.
Despite two lengthy rain delays that threatened to alter the match’s complexion, Eala remained composed and emerged one win away from the Birmingham crown.
“Personally, I tried to relax when necessary, and I think with experience you’re able to switch it back on when you need to,” Eala said following the victory. “You can’t fully let go during a rain delay, but with her serve, her power, and the grass [surface], it could change at any moment.”
There will be no time for celebration for the Filipina powerhouse as she faces Nikola Bartůňková of the Czech Republic in the championship match on June 7, seeking her second career WTA 125 title, having captured her maiden crown at the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico last year.
