Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) Alex Eala

News

Alex Eala emerges champion of ITF W25 Yecla


Alex Eala put an end to the giant-killing ways of Valentina Ryser of Switzerland as the Filipina teen star clinched their final encounter in a swift and methodical fashion, winning 6-3, 7-5, to capture the I Open Internacional Feminine held at the Yecla Club de Tenis Court 1 in Fuenteálamo, Spain on Sunday.

Eala, the second seed in the $25,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) event, remained sharp throughout the match to avoid falling victim to an upset by Ryser.

The 22-year-old Swiss had been on a tear all week, defeating the number one seed Sakura Hosogi of Japan in the second quarter round, seventh seed Lucia Cortez Llorca of Spain in the quarterfinals, and fourth-seeded Spaniard Eva Guerrero Alvarez in the semifinals.

However, Ryser soon realized that Eala was a different opponent altogether. The 18-year-old Filipina quickly took a 3-0 lead in the first set and maintained control, finishing the opening set 6-3.

Eala, the 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion, continued to assert herself in the second set, breaking Ryser’s serve at the start. After Eala built a 2-0 lead, Ryser fought back and broke serve to level the score at 2-2. Following an exchange of service breaks, Ryser gained her first lead at 4-3.

But Eala swiftly dismissed any hopes Ryser had of extending the match to a deciding third set. The Filipina tennis ace regained the lead at 6-5 after breaking Ryser for the fifth time in the match. Eala then completed her straight-set victory by serving out the 12th game, winning 7-5.

This marks Eala’s third singles title on the pro circuit. She won her first title at the ITF W15 Manacor in Spain in 2021 and her second championship at the ITF W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand in 2022.

#ReadMore  Chot Reyes explains decision to choose Mo Tautuaa over Mikey Williams

She is set to return to action next week when she participates in the ITF W25 Madrid in Spain.

Written By




You May Also Like

News

Alex Eala’s historic Wimbledon journey came to a close on Thursday as she and German partner Eva Lys bowed out of the women’s doubles...

News

Alex Eala exited in the first round of the ladies’ singles event at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships following a 6-3, 2-6, 1-6 defeat to...

News

Alex Eala came agonizingly close to her maiden WTA Tour title, finishing runner-up in her first-ever finals after a hard-fought 4-6, 6-1, 6(10)-7(12) loss...

News

For the first time in their budding careers, Alex Eala and Maya Joint will cross paths on the tennis court — and with a...

News

Alex Eala advanced to her first-ever WTA Tour final on grass after outlasting France’s Varvara Gracheva, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, in the semifinals of the...

News

Alex Eala booked her spot in the semifinals of the 2025 Lexus Eastbourne Open with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska...

News

The House of Representatives has commended sports patron Mikee Romero, tennis sensation Alex Eala, and the Philippine Men’s Curling Team through a series of...

News

Alex Eala and Renata Zarazua exited the 2025 French Open women’s doubles tournament in the second round following a 1-6, 3-6 loss to Olga...

Advertisement