Alex Eala wins first WTA title in Mexico

Metro Manila, Philippines - Alex Eala captured her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title after outlasting Panna Udvardy of Hungary in the Guadalajara 125 Open final, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, on Sunday, Sept. 7 (Manila time), in Mexico.

The 20-year-old Eala, who is the only remaining seeded player in the tournament, kept her composure and fought for every point.

Eala, ranked 75th in the world, avenged her Oeiras Ladies Open loss to the world No. 134 Udvardy when they clashed in the Round of 16 back in April.

With the victory, Eala reached a WTA final for the second time this year after her runner-up finish at the Eastbourne Open in the United Kingdom, where she suffered a heartbreaking loss to Australia’s Maya Joint in June.

The WTA 125 is the second highest level of women’s competition below the WTA Tour, which consists of the four Grand Slams, WTA Finals, WTA 1000, WTA 500, and WTA 250 events, and above the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour.