The so-called “Czech Curse” is finally broken!
Filipina tennis phenom Alexandra Eala ended one of the most stubborn storylines of her young career in dramatic fashion, rallying from a set down to defeat doubles partner Nikola Bartunkova and capture the Birmingham Open title on Sunday.
The top-seeded Filipina survived a tense final, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, to claim her second WTA 125 singles championship. More than another trophy, the win also marked Eala’s first victory over a Czech opponent, finally breaking what many of her supporters had called the “Czech Curse.”
Eala, who turned 21 last month, showed grit after dropping the opening set, steadying her game in the second before outlasting Bartunkova in a tight deciding set. The victory added another milestone to her rise as one of the most followed young players on tour, especially among Filipinos around the world.
Her global profile surged after her breakthrough run to the Miami Open semifinals last year. She later expanded her following with a dramatic first-round win over Clara Tauson at the US Open, where she secured her first victory in a Grand Slam main draw.
Two weeks after that major breakthrough, Eala became the first woman representing the Philippines to win a Challenger-level WTA title after ruling the Guadalajara 125 Open.
Based at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, Eala has continued to draw attention on the international stage, including at this year’s Australian Open, the Grand Slam closest to the Philippines.
Her Birmingham triumph now adds another defining chapter: a second WTA 125 title, a comeback win in a final, and the end of a long-awaited breakthrough against a Czech opponent.