Eala shatters ‘Czech curse’ to win 2nd WTA 125 title

Sports

IT TOOK 14 tries for Alex Eala to break a curse that had haunted her for years. And by ending the “Czech curse”, the Filipina tennis star is a champion once more.

The 21-year-old lefty secured her second WTA 125 title after she defeated Czech Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in the championship round of the Birmingham Open on Sunday night (Philippine time) in the United Kingdom.

Coming into the match, Eala was 0-13 when playing against a Czech opponent since she turned pro in 2020.

That drought finally ended as Eala lived up to her lofty billing, showing why she was the tournament’s No. 1 seed by overcoming a first-set hicccup and surviving a nip and tuck duel in the deciding set.

The 21-year-old Eala, ranked No. 37 in the world, now has two WTA 125 titles after also winning the Guadalajara Open in Mexico last year. She joined former Grand Slam champions and world number ones Maria Sharapova, Ashleigh Barty, and Angelique Kerber, among others, to win the Birmingham Classic.

After the title run which came after a series of fruitless campaigsn in clay-court tournaments, Eala will have little time to rest. She will next compete in the Queen's Club Championships, which will start on June 9 in London.

Eala was initially listed as a qualifier but made it to the main draw following the injuries of Jessica Pegula and Hailey Baptiste due to injury.

Eala will also see action in the doubles of the WTA 500 Bad Homburg Open where she will be teaming up with tennis legend Venus Williams.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, is also seeing action in the Queen’s Club doubles to end a long four-year hiatus.(CCM)