KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

ALEX Eala is a winner once again.

Attacking from almost conceivable angles, Eala outlasted Switzerland’s Valentina Ryser, 6-3, 7-5, to rule the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Yecla tournament in Spain Sunday, June 4.

The second-seeded Eala was up to the task as she overcame Ryser’s resilient plays en route to winning her first pro title this year.

Overall, it was Eala’s third pro crown since winning the W15 Manacor in 2021 and W25 Chiang Rai in 2022.

But in doing so, the 18-year-old world No. 266 Filipina standout had to thread through the eye of the needle as she needed three deciding matches to raise another championship trophy.

She opened up her campaign with a hard-fought 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 victory over Great Britain’s Katy Dunne, while also needing an extra set in dispatching France’s Nahia Berecoechea, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, in the second round.

Eala cruised into her quarterfinal match against Mexico’s Victoria Rodriguez, 6-1, 6-3, before surviving the ferocious plays of Argentina’s Lucia Peyre in the semis, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Alex Eala pips Swiss rival to rule W25 event in Spain