Alex Eala triumphs over Swiss foe, secures ITF W25 Yecla title

Alex Eala delivered a dominant performance against Switzerland's Valentina Ryser, triumphing with a 6-3, 7-5 victory to claim the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Yecla title at Yecla Club de Tenis Court 1 in Fuenteálamo, Spain on Sunday, June 4.

This remarkable achievement marks Eala's third professional title, following her victories at the W15 Manacor in 2021 and the W25 Chiang Rai last year.

The 18-year-old Filipino tennis prodigy also earned a prize of $25,000 as she stopped Ryser's impressive run in the finals. The intense match lasted for an hour and 30 minutes.

Ryser had surprised spectators on her path to the championship round, stunning top-seeded Japanese player Sakura Hosogi in the second round. She defeated seventh-seeded Lucia Cortez Llorca of Spain in the quarterfinals and fourth-seeded Spaniard Eva Guerrero Alverez in the semifinals. However, Eala showcased her exceptional skills, leaving Ryser no room to exploit.

Eala swiftly took a commanding 3-0 lead before Ryser secured her first game. The competitors exchanged points until Eala dealt the decisive blows to secure a 1-0 advantage.

The following set witnessed a seesaw battle, but Eala, ranked 266th in the World Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, gained the upper hand in the 11th game. Her powerful service game enabled her to secure a 7-5 victory in the second set over Ryser, currently ranked 665th in the WTA.

The 2022 US Open Girls' Singles champion will return to action next week as she vies for the ITF W25 Madrid crown in Spain.