Alex Eala seized a golden opportunity to make history as the first Filipina to claim a WTA 125 title.
The 20-year-old made sure not to let the chance slip, adding another landmark achievement to her growing list of accomplishments.
Eala came from a set down to exact revenge over Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the finals of the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open at the Panamerican Tennis Center in Mexico on Sunday.
Their rivalry dates back to April, when Eala, the top seed at the WTA 125 Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, fell to Udvardy — then ranked world No. 137 — in the second round, 6-7 (4), 4-6.
Udvardy eventually lost in the quarterfinals to her compatriot and eventual champion Dalma Galfi.
Sunday’s rematch required Eala to overcome a sluggish start and navigate some tense moments against an in-form Udvardy, who had dropped only one set in four matches leading up to the finals.
World No. 75 Eala struggled in the opening set, dropping her serve four times as Udvardy claimed it in just 25 minutes.
The second set, however, became a grueling battle lasting an hour and seven minutes.
Eala gradually learned to handle Udvardy’s flat first serve and powerful groundstrokes, building a 4-1 lead.
Udvardy rallied to tie it at 5-5, but Eala broke the Hungarian in the 11th game and saved four break points in the 12th. She then closed out the set, sending the match into a decisive third frame.
Both players understood the importance of a strong start in the final set.
After battling through four deuces in the opening game, Eala finally converted her fifth break point to go up 1-0. She maintained a two-game lead until the sixth game, but Udvardy drew closer at 4-3.
Showing steely determination, Eala held her serve and then broke Udvardy in the ninth game to seal a hard-fought victory after two hours and 31 minutes on court.
Eala’s previous best finish in the WTA 125 series was a semifinal appearance at the Canberra Tennis International in January.
Her celebration will be brief, as she is set to fly to Brazil to compete in the WTA 250 SP Open in São Paulo from September 8-14.
Eala is seeded third in the tournament, behind top seed and world No. 22 Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil and second seed Solana Sierra of Argentina, ranked 74th.
Udvardy will also compete as the eighth seed.
