Eala bags 5th ITF women’s singles title, doubles crown

Metro Manila, Philippines — Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala accomplished a rare feat by ruling the singles and doubles competition in the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz championship in Spain on Sunday, July 21.

Eala dominated Victoria Jimenez Kasinteva in straight sets, 6-4 6-4, to capture her fifth ITF women’s singles title.

While she took the longer route with French partner Estelle Cascino in doubles play to win 6-3, 2-6, 10-4 against Lia Karatancheva of Bulgaria and Diana Marcinkevica of Latvia.

The world number 155 Eala took a double break against Jimenez Kasinteva in the opening set but dropped the eighth game, giving her opponent from Andorra a chance to recover. But Eala showed composure in the next two games to take the first set.

In the second set, Eala took care of business by breaking Jimenez Kasinteva thrice. Converting 63% of her first serve, the 19-year-old Eala showed poise all throughout the match.

Eala last won an ITF women’s title back in August 2023, when she defeated Arina Rodionova at the W25 Roehampton in London.

With the victory, Eala is expected to enter the top 150 for the first time in her career.