Filipino top seed Alexandra Eala ruled the Birmingham Open after beating fifth-seeded Czech Nikola Bartunkova 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday night, June 7, 2026, at the Edgbaston Priory Club in the United Kingdom.
First Grass-Court Title
The World No. 37 secured her second WTA 125 title after the 2025 Guadalajara Open in Mexico and first on grass court.
“It was a really tight moment and I knew that if I didn’t go for it, Nikki (Bartunkova) would go for it,” Eala said of the break points she faced in the final game before winning the title. “It’s one of those days where a little bit of luck and intention was what got me through.”
Doubles Effort
Eala teamed up with Bartunkova in doubles, where they lost to second-seeded British pair Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9, in the first round.
Path to the Final
- Round of 32: Defeated Australian Priscilla Hon, 6-0, 6-2.
- Round of 16: Defeated Russian Alina Charaeva, 6-2, 7-5.
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Thai Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-3, 6-2.
- Semifinals: Defeated Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Eala also beat Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, in the finals of the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December, ending the Philippines’ 26-year gold medal drought in women’s singles.
Bartunkova’s Run
World No. 69 Bartunkova turned back Dart (3-6, 6-3, 7-5) in the first round; compatriot Gabriela Knutson, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the second round; British Mika Stojsavljevic, 6-4, 6-7 (8), 7-6(4), in the quarters; and American Ashlyn Krueger, 6-4, 7-6 (7) in the semifinals.
