Number one seed Alex Eala delivered a near‑flawless performance in her opening singles match at the WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open, dismantling Australia’s Priscilla Hon, 6‑0, 6‑2, on Tuesday evening.
Eala and Hon met twice previously, with each earning a win over the other. But this time, it was the pride of the Philippines who secured the 2‑1 record in their head‑to‑head clash.
Fresh off a heartbreaking doubles defeat a day earlier, Eala quickly shifted her focus to singles and responded emphatically.
Alex Eala Sets the Tone with a First‑Set Masterclass
From the opening points of the match, Alex Eala was firmly in control.
The 21‑year‑old immediately imposed her aggressive baseline game and sharp serving, leaving Hon struggling to find any rhythm. Eala consistently dictated rallies, attacked short balls, and forced the Australian into a series of errors.
The opening set quickly turned into a one‑sided affair.
Eala won all of her first‑serve points and controlled nearly every exchange, racing through the first frame in just 22 minutes. Hon was unable to find answers to the Filipina’s relentless pressure as Eala completed a dominant 6‑0 shutout.
The “bagel” set highlighted just how efficient Eala was, as she combined powerful groundstrokes with excellent court coverage to keep Hon under constant pressure.
Relentless in the Second Set
There was no drop in intensity after the opening‑set demolition.
Eala carried her momentum into the second frame and continued to overwhelm her opponent. She quickly surged to a 5‑0 lead, putting herself within striking distance of a rare double‑bagel victory.
The world No. 37 looked poised to finish the match without surrendering a game, but Hon finally managed to stop the bleeding.
Hon, who ranks No. 143 in the world, broke Eala’s serve in the sixth game and followed it up with a hold in the seventh, trimming the deficit to 5‑2. A few untimely errors from Eala briefly allowed Hon to gain some momentum and avoid a complete rout.
However, any hopes of a comeback were short‑lived. After allowing Hon to win back‑to‑back games, Eala quickly regained her focus.
Serving for the match, the Filipina raced through the final game with authority. She produced another series of clean winners, including a crisp two‑handed backhand that helped seal the victory.
Eala closed out the contest with a love hold, wrapping up the match 6‑0, 6‑2 in just 59 minutes.
Up Next: Round of 16 for Alex Eala
Interestingly, this is only the second time that the Rafa Nadal Academy alumna has been a top seed, with her first one being at the Oeiras Open last year. In that WTA 125 tournament, Eala made it all the way to the Round of 16.
With the win over Hon, Eala now advances to the Round of 16 again, where she will face either Greet Minnen of Belgium or Alina Charaeva of Russia.
If her opening performance is any indication, the Filipina star appears ready to make a deep run in Birmingham as she continues building toward her ultimate goal of a breakthrough performance on grass during the Wimbledon season.
Alex Eala Next Match
Tournament: WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open
Date and Time: Wednesday, June 3 (Time to be decided)
Category: Singles (Main Draw, Round of 16)
Match: Alex Eala vs. Greet Minnen or Alina Charaeva
