Rising Filipino tennis star Alex Eala is just one win away from making history, advancing to the finals of the 2025 Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico after a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Kayla Day on Saturday (PH time).
Facing early pressure, Eala — currently ranked World No. 75 — shook off a 0-2 deficit in the opening set by reeling off eight straight games, taking full control of the match. Day, the World No. 418, fought back to level the second set at 2-all, but Eala regained momentum, closing out the match in just over an hour.
The 19-year-old rising star will now face World No. 134 Panna Udvardy of Hungary in the finals. Udvardy secured her spot after defeating Russia’s Maria Kozyreva, 6-3, 6-4, in the other semifinals.
This marks Eala’s second WTA final appearance, following her breakthrough at the Lexus Eastbourne Open last June, where she finished runner-up to Maya Joint in a closely contested finals.
Eala now aims to clinch her maiden WTA title — a potential milestone not only for her career, but for Philippine tennis as a whole.
