Alexandra Eala creates history by winning maiden WTA title in Mexico, receives praise from Rafael Nadal

The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala’s season has just gone from good to better as she achieved yet another milestone. The 20-year-old became the talk of the town after producing brilliant performances in the WTA 1000 event in Miami earlier this year.

In that competition, Eala managed to go all the way to the semifinal. On her way to the last-four clash, she defeated three Grand Slam winners. She defeated the 2017 French Open winner, Latvia’s Jeļena Ostapenko, in the second round with a score of 7-6, 7-5. In the next round, Eala got the better of the 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-2.

At the quarterfinals stage, Eala secured the biggest win of her career as she defeated former world number one and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Her journey finally ended at the last-four stage after losing to 2024 US Open runner-up, America’s Jessica Pegula, with a score of 7-6, 5-7, 6-3.

Now, Eala has secured her maiden WTA title. The 20-year-old lifted the WTA 125 event in Guadalajara after beating Hungarian Panna Udvardy in the final with a score of 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday. It was only the second time in the competition that Eala lost a set in the match.

Eala started the competition in style after beating Arianne Hartono in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2. She defeated America’s Varvara Lepchenko with a score of 6-7, 7-6, 6-3. Eala then outclassed Italy’s Nicole Fossa Huergo in the quarterfinal with a score of 7-6, 6-2. In the semifinals, Eala defeated America’s Kayla Day in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3.

After securing a win, Eala received a lot of praise from the former world number one, Rafael Nadal, who congratulated her in a post on X. "Congrats, Alex Eala, on your first WTA (trophy)," wrote Nadal. "I am happy and proud of what you are achieving for yourself and for the Philippines."

Eala is a graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy and has already produced some incredible results on the court. The result was an important one for Eala, who came into the competition on the back of a rather disappointing outing at the US Open, where her journey in the tournament ended in the second round as she suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Spain’s Cristina Busca in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

Before that, however, Eala managed to produce one of the biggest upsets in the first round as she defeated the 14th seed, Denmark’s Clara Tauson, with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 7-6. Talking after the match, Eala stated how difficult it was to beat a top player in a Grand Slam, and she also highlighted how she is looking to produce better results in the future. She also thanked the supporters sitting in the arena.

“It was so, so difficult,” said Eala after the match “[Clara is] a huge player, she’s a great player. Definitely not an easy draw for a first round, but I’m so happy that I was able to dig deep. I was just thinking to push the limit physically, mentally…this was it. I’m always in the mood for more history. This match is one for the books, for me. It’s so special [the support from the crowd]. They make me more and more special. To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in. I don’t have a home tournament, so to be able to have this community at the US Open, I’m so grateful. They made me feel like I’m home.”