Top seed Alex Eala showcased her resilience as she overcame a tough challenge from Russia’s Alina Charaeva, 6-2, 7-5, to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open.
The victory extended Eala’s unbeaten run in Birmingham as well as improving her head-to-head record against Charaeva to 2-1.
Fast Start Puts Alex Eala in Command
Fresh from her dominant opening-round win over Australia’s Priscilla Hon, Eala wasted no time asserting herself against Charaeva.
The world No. 37 immediately applied pressure on the Russian’s serve and raced to a commanding 4-0 advantage in the opening set. The world No. 130 briefly found some rhythm and managed to get on the scoreboard, trimming the deficit to 4-1 before later making it 5-2.
Despite the resistance, Eala remained firmly in control. The Filipina continued to dictate rallies from the baseline and maintained her consistency on serve, eventually converting her fifth set point to secure the opening frame after just 36 minutes.
The first set highlighted Eala’s superior execution, as she capitalized on Charaeva’s early mistakes and prevented the Russian from building any sustained momentum.
Charaeva Turns the Tide in the Second Set
The match took a dramatic turn in the second set as Charaeva began to vary her tactics more effectively. The Russian relied on slices, drop shots, and heavier groundstrokes to disrupt Eala’s rhythm, taking advantage of the fast, low-bouncing grass surface.
After both players traded games early, Charaeva found her breakthrough by breaking Eala’s serve and building a seemingly comfortable 5-2 lead.
For the first time in the match, Alex Eala appeared vulnerable.
Charaeva looked poised to force a deciding third set as she continued to pressure the Filipina with her aggressive play and improved shot selection. The momentum had completely shifted, and the Russian was only a game away from extending the contest.
Alex Eala Produces Stunning Comeback in Set Two
Instead of folding under pressure, Eala responded with the kind of mental toughness that is becoming a hallmark of her game.
The Filipina held serve to cut the deficit to 3-5 before gradually working her way back into contention. She then earned a crucial break to make it 4-5, shifting the pressure back onto Charaeva.
With confidence growing, Eala continued her charge by breaking serve once more and suddenly found herself leading 6-5 after winning four straight games.
The momentum was now entirely on her side.
Serving for the match, Eala maintained her composure and quickly moved ahead in the final game. Charaeva attempted one last push, but an errant return ultimately sealed the victory for the tournament’s top seed.
From trailing 2-5, Eala completed an impressive five-game run to close out the match after one hour and 40 minutes with a final score of 7-5, avoiding a potentially dangerous third set.
Up Next: Quarterfinal Clash vs. Sawangkaew
The win sends the Rafa Nadal Academy alumna into the quarterfinals of her first grass-court tournament of the year, a welcome boost after ending her clay-court campaign with consecutive losses.
Awaiting the 21-year-old is Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, setting up a compelling all-Southeast Asian showdown.
The matchup will be a rematch of the women’s singles gold medal match at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, where Eala delivered a dominant performance to capture the title and end the Philippines’ 26-year drought in the event.
With two straight victories in Birmingham and her confidence steadily growing on grass, Alex Eala remains firmly in contention for what could be her second WTA 125 championship and another significant milestone in her rising career.
