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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala shakes off slow start, powers into Guadalajara final

Alex Eala shakes off slow start, powers into Guadalajara final

Published Sep 6, 2025 04:04 am

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala shrugged off a lethargic start before demolishing American Kayla Day, 6-2, 6-3, to barge into the finals of the Guadalajara 125 Open early Saturday, Sept. 6 (Philippine time).
Alex Eala (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Alex Eala (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Alex Eala shrugged off a lethargic start before demolishing American Kayla Day, 6-2, 6-3, to barge into the finals of the Guadalajara 125 Open early Saturday, Sept. 6 (Philippine time).
In a battle of two former US Open girls singles champions, the 20-year-old Eala emerged as the winner after recovering from slow starts in the two sets to inch closer to a breakthrough Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles title.
With the win, the second-seeded Eala arranged a title clash against Hungarian Panna Udvardy, who hammered down Russian Maria Kozyreva, 6-3, 6-4, for a spot in the finals slated early Sunday, Sept. 7 (PH time).
It was a sort of a rematch for Eala and Udvardy as the two rising stars had already encountered each other in Round of 16 of the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal last April where the latter eliminated the Filipina bet, 7-6(4), 6-4.
It is also Eala’s second finals appearance in a WTA event after settling for the runner-up honors at the Eastbourne Open in Great Britain last June.
Prior to marching into the finals, Eala dispatched Arianne Hartono, 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round a few days back before winning matches in a day -- against Varvara Lepchenko, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-3, and Nicole Fossa Huergo, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
Against Day, Eala dug herself from a 0-2 start before snaring the next six games for the first-set win, then kept that momentum in the second frame despite a series of errors.
A championship would be a fitting feat for Eala, who is set to plunge back into action at the São Paulo Open — a WTA 250 tournament in Brazil — right after her campaign in Mexico.

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