Alex Eala continued her impressive grass-court run at the 2026 Lexus Birmingham Open, dispatching Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to book a place in the semifinals.
The opening game alone lasted around 15 minutes and featured nine deuces as both players tested each other’s resolve from the baseline.
Eala eventually emerged victorious in that marathon game, earning the early break that immediately shifted momentum in her favor. From there, the Filipina settled into rhythm on the grass courts of Birmingham.
Using aggressive returns, precise groundstrokes, and excellent court positioning, she repeatedly forced Sawangkaew onto the defensive.
The Thai player struggled to contain Eala’s pace as the world No. 37 quickly built a commanding 5-1 lead in the opening set.
Sawangkaew Shows Resistance but Eala Stays in Control
To her credit, Sawangkaew refused to go away quietly.
The Thai star won back-to-back games to cut the deficit to 5-3 and briefly threatened to extend the opening set. However, Alex Eala remained composed and closed out the frame at the next opportunity.
A strong serve forced an error from Sawangkaew, allowing Eala to secure the first set after 48 minutes of action.
The opening frame highlighted Eala’s ability to dictate play, particularly when attacking the corners and stepping inside the baseline to take balls early.
Filipina Star Responds
Sawangkaew entered the second set with renewed confidence and managed to gain a 2-1 advantage, her first lead of the match.
The momentum swing, however, proved short-lived.
Eala immediately responded by elevating her level on both serve and return. She broke the Thai’s serve to level the set before gradually taking complete control of the contest.
Her movement on the grass became a major factor as she tracked down difficult shots and converted several opportunities at the net. Eala also continued to pressure Sawangkaew with deep returns and aggressive ball striking, forcing errors from the Thai player.
The Filipina reeled off five of the final six games, including a dominant stretch that saw her build a 5-2 lead and move within touching distance of the semifinals. Serving for the match, Eala showed no signs of nerves.
The 21-year-old earned match point with a brilliant two-handed backhand winner before Sawangkaew sent a forehand long on the following rally, officially sealing the victory.
Semifinal Berth Secured for Alex Eala
The straight-sets triumph marked Eala’s second win over Sawangkaew in their last two meetings. The Filipina previously defeated the Thai star in the gold-medal match of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.
With the victory, Alex Eala advanced to the semifinals of the Birmingham Open. Her winning streak now extends to three matches after previously beating Priscilla Hon and Alina Charaeva.
Awaiting her in the next round is Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, who advanced after defeating American Mary Stoiana in three sets. A win would place Eala in her first final of the season and one step closer to her second title in the professional tour.
Alex Eala Next Match
Alex Eala vs. Rebeka Masarova
Tournament: WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open
Date and Time: Saturday, June 6 at 6:00 p.m. (Time subject to change.)
Category: Singles (Main Draw, Semifinals)
