LIVE: Alex Eala vs Nikola Bartunkova – Birmingham Open Final
- Alex Eala goes for the WTA 125 Birmingham Open as she faces doubles partner Nikola Bartunkova in the Final.
Birmingham Open Final schedule
- 7:25pm – Alex Eala vs Nikola Bartunkova
Alex Eala wins Birmingham Open title, ends Czech curse
The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates winning her women’s singles final match against Nikola Bartunkova on day nine of the Lexus Birmingham Open Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, England, Sunday June 7, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala raised her first trophy of the season and lifted a curse that has haunted her for the past several years.
Eala rallied past up-and-coming Czech Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, to win the WTA 125 Birmingham Open on Sunday night (Manila time).
The 21-year-old Eala won her second WTA crown after ruling the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico last September.
READ: Alex Eala survives ‘great test,’ advances to Birmingham Open final
Eala’s victory also marked her first against a Czech in 14 tries since turning pro in 2020.
LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Nikola Bartunkova
- FINAL: The curse is lifted. Alex Eala rallies past Czech Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, to win the Birmingham Open.
- Bartunkova break point, 40-30
- Eala forehand winner, 30-15
- Eala breaks back, 6-5.
- Bartunkova double fault. Eala break point, 40-0
- Bartunkova breaks to love and ties it up 5-5
- Bartunkova break point, 40-0.
- Bartunkova extends. Eala 5-4
- Eala on the brink of her first title in 2026, 5-3
- Bartunkova battles back, trims Eala’s lead to 4-3.
- Bartunkova 40-0
- Bartunkova ace, 30-0.
- Eala holds, 4-2.
- Bartunkova out. Eala 40-30
- Eala four consecutive points, 3-2.
- Eala three straight points, now at break point, 40-30
- Eala saves three break points to tie, 2-2.
- Eala ace, advantage
- Bartunkova advantage
- Eala forces the deuce.
- Bartunkova break point, 40-15
- Bartunkova leads 2-1
- Bartunkova drop. 30-15
- Bartunkova ace, 15-15
- Eala returns the favor, 1-1
- Bartunkova cruises to a 1-0 lead in the third set.
- Eala backhand too strong. Bartunkova 40-0
- Eala bounces back and forces a decider, 6-3.
- Eala with another strong serve, moves to set point, 40-15
- Eala ace 30-15
- Bartunkova fights back and pulls within 3-5.
- Eala on a roll, serves to love, 5-2
- Bartunkova out. Eala 40-0
- Bartunkova out. Eala breaks, 4-2.
- Eala smash, break point, 40-0
- Bartunkova double fault. Eala 30-0
- Eala serves to love, 3-2
- Eala overhand, 40-0
- Bartunkova serves to love, 2-2
- Eala holds for a 2-1 edge
- Eala breaks back to tie at 1-1
- Bartunkova wide. Eala advantage
- Eala solid return
- Bartunkova advantage
- Bartunkova down the line
- Bartunkova double fault. Eala break point advantage
- Bartunkova ace. deuce.
- Eala break point, 40-15.
- Bartunkova breaks again for 1-0 lead in the second set.
- Eala shot herself in the foot with four double faults in the opening frame.
- Bartunkova takes the first set, 7-5
- Bartunkova advantage
- Eala break point advantage
- Eala long. Bartunkova set point, 40-30.
- Bartunkova gets the first break of the match to take the lead, 6-5.
- Bartunkova break point, 40-30
- Eala well-placed drop. 30-0
- Back-and-forth continues. Bartunkova evens it up, 5-5.
- Bartunkova wide. Eala holds on for 5-4 edge.
- Bartunkova blows chance to break, goes wide.
- Bartunkova break point.
- Eala out. Bartunkova knots the first set again, 4-4.
- Eala retakes the lead, 4-3.
- Bartunkova forces the deuce
- Bartunkova evens the match 3-3
- Eala hangs on to hold serve. She leads, 3-2
- Bartunkova making Eala work. Deuce
- Eala out. Deuce
- Another double fault for Eala. Bartunkova 15-0
- Bartunkova ties again. 2-2
- Eala takes a 2-1 lead.
- Eala backhand winner. 40-15
- Eala recovers and attacks the net. 30-15
- Eala double fault. 15-15
- Eala out. Bartunkova levels, 1-1.
- Eala trailing 15-40
- Bartunkova long. Eala serves to love for 1-0 headstart.
- Bartunkova wide. Eala 40-0
- Back-to-back short shots by Bartunkova. Eala 30-0
- Eala serving to open the final
- Eala seeking her first win against a Czech opponent. She’s currently 0-13 vs Czechs since turning pro in 2020.
- Alex Eala and Nikola Bartunkova now warming up at Centre Court.
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.
Eala came into her match against Masarova having won her first three matches in sweeping fashion.
The top-seeded Eala again looked well on her way to another easy win after a dominant opening set, but Masarova regrouped and let the Filipino rising star know it’s going to be a long night.
Masarova’s fightback, coupled with several rain delays that led to a pair of suspensions lasting for hours, made it an excruciatingly long match and Eala could only breathe a big sigh of relief.
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