Rain clouds rolled in twice. Rebeka Masarova kept coming back. Alex Eala kept moving forward.
The Filipina star secured her first final appearance of the season on Saturday, defeating the Swiss qualifier 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a weather-interrupted semifinal at the Lexus Birmingham Open.
By day’s end, the 21-year-old had outlasted the weather, the qualifier, and every obstacle between her and a place in Sunday’s championship match.
The opening set began with all the smoothness of a lawnmower hitting a pothole. Eala needed time to find her footing, but once she did, she tore through the remainder of the set, turning an uncertain start into a commanding 6-2 finish.
Masarova, however, had not spent the week battling through qualifying rounds just to provide a pleasant subplot.
The Swiss found another gear in the second set, breaking Eala in the fifth game and steadily tightening her grip on the match. The Filipina stayed within striking distance, but a missed opportunity midway through the frame allowed Masarova to keep her nose in front and eventually force a deciding set.
The third set became less a tennis match than a contest of composure.
Eala edged ahead 3-2 before rain sent players and spectators scrambling for cover. When play resumed, she immediately seized the initiative, battling through deuces before breaking for a 4-2 advantage as Masarova unraveled with three straight errors.
Moments later, Eala was serving with one foot in the final.
Then Birmingham remembered it was Birmingham.
Another shower swept across Centre Court, forcing a second interruption with Eala holding a 5-2 lead. Masarova returned to extend the contest, but only briefly.
Serving for the match, Eala unleashed back-to-back forehand winners to erase an early deficit in the game and move within touching distance of victory. A netted shot delayed the celebration, but Masarova soon returned the favor before committing one final error.
“Really happy with the win today, to be in my first final of the year in Birmingham,” Eala said afterward, probably remember how she bombed out in the WTA 125 event early last year. She acknowledged the game and the tough resistance put up by the Swiss player.
There will be little time to savor the victory. Waiting in Sunday’s final is Czech Nikola Bartůňková, Eala’s former doubles partner and now the last player standing between the Filipina and her first trophy of 2026.
A win Sunday should boost Eala’s confidence as one of the key tune-up events for The Championships, Wimbledon, the only one of the four Grand Slams still played on natural grass.
