Alex Eala suffers an early exit after a devastating loss to Fruhvirtová at the Birmingham Open

Alex Eala was eliminated in the first round of the 2025 Lexus Birmingham Open after a hard-fought three-set match against Czech player Linda Fruhvirtová. Eala, the tournament’s third seed, lost 5–7, 7(7)–6(5), 1–6 in a nearly three-hour contest. She managed to force a tiebreak in the second set, showcasing her resilience, but ultimately succumbed in the final set.

The 19-year-old Filipina showed determination from the start, battling toe-to-toe with the former world No. 49. Eala dropped a tightly contested opening set but fought back with resilience in the second, saving multiple match points and edging the tiebreak to force a decider.

In the third set, Eala responded with grit, fending off a potential double break and even moving ahead 3-2. But Fruhvirtová, currently ranked No. 152, proved steadier in the crucial moments, reclaiming control to race to a 4-1 lead before sealing the win. The loss marked Eala’s third consecutive early-round singles exit during the European swing.

TULOY LANG, ALEX

It was still a gritty showing from Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, who showed flashes of brilliance before bowing out in the Round of 32 at the 2025 Birmingham Open against former world No. 49 Linda Fruhvirtová, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 1-6#OneSports #BirminghamOpen pic.twitter.com/cZYHjMgGSE

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) June 3, 2025

Despite the result, Eala’s tenacity and flashes of brilliance stood out. The match served as a valuable test ahead of her highly anticipated Wimbledon main draw debut, scheduled to begin on June 30. In preparation, Eala is set to compete in more grass-court tournaments across the UK in the coming weeks to sharpen her form and build confidence on the surface.

This early exit adds to a series of first-round defeats for Eala in recent tournaments, including the Australian Open qualifiers and the Oeiras Ladies. Despite these setbacks, Eala’s performance at the 2025 Madrid Open, where she reached the second round before losing to Iga Świątek, remains a highlight of her season.

Eala’s early exit in Birmingham marks her first grass-court match of the year, and she will look to regroup and build on her experience as she continues her ascent in the WTA rankings.

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