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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala survives Baptiste, enters to Eastbourne Open main draw

Alex Eala survives Baptiste, enters to Eastbourne Open main draw

Published Jun 22, 2025 11:48 pm

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala showed nerves of steel and survived higher-ranked American Hailey Baptiste, 6-7(7), 7-6(7), 6-1, to barge into the main draw of the WTA 250 Lexus Eastbourne Open in Great Britain Sunday, June 22 (Philippine time).
Alex Eala (Alex Eala's FB post)
Alex Eala (Alex Eala's FB post)
Alex Eala showed nerves of steel and survived higher-ranked American Hailey Baptiste, 6-7(7), 7-6(7), 6-1, to barge into the main draw of the WTA 250 Lexus Eastbourne Open in Great Britain Sunday, June 22 (Philippine time).
Eala, the world No. 77, overcame a first-set hiccup and bounced back in the following frames after delivering strong serves and hits against the No. 56 Baptiste in their less than three-hour contest.
The 20-year-old Eala now challenges Italian Lucia Bronzetti in Round of 32 of the tournament.
The Filipina tennis wonder is in the thick of her preparations on grass court as she braces for a tough battle in her second Grand Slam appearance at the Wimbledon later this month.
Prior to her hard-fought victory, Eala toppled Turkish Zeynep Sonmez, 6-1, 6-3, in the first round of the qualifiers.
The two-time Asian Games medalist had a decent act in the first few minutes where she almost secured the first set but was only denied by Baptiste's aggression in their exchanges.
Eala kept herself cool and managed to turn her fortune in the second set before ultimately dominating her American foe in a lopsided finisher.

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