Eala Advances to Birmingham Open Semifinals with Straight-Set Win

Alex Eala inched closer to another Challenger final after defeating Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6–3, 6–2, in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Lexus Birmingham Open on Saturday morning (Manila time) at England’s Edgbaston Priory Club.

The top-seeded Filipina overcame an early scare before asserting control, earning her third consecutive straight-set victory of the tournament and securing a spot in the semifinals.

Eala’s win added another chapter to her budding rivalry with Sawangkaew, whom she previously defeated in the women’s singles gold-medal match at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

The match began with a tense opening game, as Sawangkaew generated four break-point opportunities across nine deuces. Eala remained composed, holding serve to gain an early advantage. After the Thai leveled at 1–1, Eala ramped up her aggression, winning four consecutive games to take a 5–1 lead. Sawangkaew managed to cut the deficit to 5–3, but Eala closed the first set in 48 minutes.

The second set started evenly, with both players holding serve through the opening four games. Eala’s consistency and precise shot-making gradually pulled her ahead, as she captured the final four games to seal the victory and end Sawangkaew’s impressive Birmingham run. Notably, Sawangkaew had advanced to the quarterfinals without dropping a set, including two wins in the qualifying draw.

In the semifinals, Eala will face Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, a familiar foe. The two previously teamed up in doubles at the 2025 Birmingham Open, and Eala also defeated Masarova in straight sets at the ITF W75 Trnava tournament in Slovakia last year.

A victory over Masarova would send Eala into her second Challenger-level final, keeping her Birmingham Open title aspirations alive.