LIVE: Alex Eala vs Rebeka Masarova – Birmingham Open semifinal
- Alex Eala faces Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova for a spot in the Birmingham Open final.
Birmingham Open schedule – semifinal
June 6, Saturday
- 6:50 p.m. – Alex Eala vs Rebeka Masarova
LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Rebeka Masarova
Alex Eala survives ‘great test,’ advances to Birmingham Open final
Philippines’ Alexandra Eala in action during her semifinal match against Rebeka Masarova, on day eight of the Lexus Birmingham Open Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, England, Saturday June 6, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala’s run continued in the Birmingham Open just past midnight on Sunday (Manila time).
This time, though, it took her a while to get the win.
After easing her way into the semifinal, Eala survived her first real test in the WTA 125 tournament, overcoming Swiss Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to reach her first final of the season.
FINALS BOUND! 🎾💪🏽
Alex Eala outlasted Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to advance to the final round of the Birmingham Open.
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/IwAw1BhGQi pic.twitter.com/lei13d77n4
— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) June 6, 2026
- Alex Eala to face Czech doubles partner Nikola Bartunkova in the final.
- FINAL: Alex Eala overcomes Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to reach Birmingham Open final
- Masarova slide too low. Advantage Eala
- Eala short. Deuce
- Masarova long. Eala at match point, 40-30.
- Eala on point. 30-30
- Eala cross court. She’s behind, 15-30
- Masarova ace. Eala now serving for the match
- Masarova hits the net. Eala trailing 15-30
- Eala’s return goes long again. Masarova 30-0
- Eala out. Masarova gets going, 15-0
- Masarova will serve at the resumption, looking to stay alive
- Eala and Masarova warming up again
- Interesting to see if the long break affected Eala’s play. She’s on the brink of victory and a finals appearance.
- Match minutes away from resumption.
- Eala on the brink of a finals appearance up 5-2.
- Match stopped anew as rain poured again.
- Eala rolls to 5-2 lead.
- Eala breaks for 4-2 lead.
- Match is set to resume. Players are back on the court.
- Earlier, the match was pushed back an hour due to rain.
- Match is suspended due to rain with Eala ahead 3-2, 15-0, in the decider.
- Msasarova double fault. Eala 15-0
- Eala serves to love, 3-2.
- Masarova ace to level, 2-2.
- Masarova rebounds and breaks back, cuts Eala’s lead, 2-1
- Eala double fault. Masarova break point, 40-15
- Eala breaks for 2-0 lead
- Eala break point, 40-30
- Eala serves to love to open the deciding set.
- Masarova had five aces in the second set.
- Eala out. Masarova deals Eala her first set loss in the tournament, 6-4.
- Masarova set point, 40-0.
- Two straight poor returns from Eala. Masarova 3-0
- Eala survives to pull within 4-5.
- Eala slice attempt backfires. Eala 30-15
- Eala out. Masarova 5-3
- Eala responds in a big way, serves to love. Eala trailing Masarova, 3-4
- Eala has yet to drop a set in the tournament
- Masarova hangs on to hold serve. She leads 4-2
- Masarova breaks to take the lead, 3-2.
- Masarova cruises to knot it up again at 2-2
- Eala retakes the lead, 2-1.
- What a fightback from Masarova, who ties it up at 1-1.
- Masarova forces the deuce.
- Eala hustling and not taking any chances, 40-0
- Back-to-back double faults by Masarova. Eala 30-0
- Eala pouncing on an error-prone Masarova. She takes a 1-0 lead in the second set
- Frustration shown by Masarova as Eala breaks to take the first set, 6-2.
- Masarova fighting back, gets an ace. Eala 40-30
- Make it three in a row. Eala set point, 40-0
- Two straight errors by Masarova. Eala 30-0
- Eala cross-court winner, 5-2
- Eala attacks the net, 40-15.
- Eala crushing forehand winner, 15-15.
- Eala double fault. Masarova 15-0
- Masarova holds serve. Eala, 4-2
- Masarova with too many errors. Eala up, 4-1.
- Masarova serving well and holds to get on the board, trailing Eala, 3-1.
- Masarova forces the first deuce of the match.
- Eala break point, 40-30, after another Masarova error.
- Masarova out. Eala in control early, 3-0.
- Masarova wide. Eala breaks, 2-0.
- Masarova double fault. Eala at break point, 40-0.
- Down 0-30, Eala takes a 1-0 lead.
- Masarova having a hard time returning Eala’s serves.
- Alex Eala serving first.
- Players are now warming up.
- Match moved to 6:50 p.m. start time.
- The semifinal match between Alex Eala and Rebeka Masarova has been delayed by rain.
Alex Eala beats Sawangkaew, advances to Birmingham Open semis
Alex Eala in action during the WTA 125 Birmingham Open. –BIRMINGHAM OPEN PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala ousted Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand, 6-3, 6-2, to secure a spot in the semifinals of the Birmingham Open on Saturday.
Eala overcame a tough challenge from Sawangkaew but found her stride in both sets to arrange a semifinal duel with Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova.
After Sawangkaew took a 2-1 lead in the second set, Eala strung together five straight games to seal the match in one hour and 21 minutes.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
