Alex Eala shook off a slow start before fighting tooth and nail against Maya Joint and faltering in the end of a thrilling tiebreak in the Eastbourne Open final.
Alex Eala forced a smile through tears as she waved to an appreciative crowd and received the runner-up trophy in the Eastbourne Open Saturday, June 28.
Eala has just wasted four championship points as she stumbled to Maya Joint after a brave fight, 4-6, 6-1, 6(10)-7, in the championship round.
She attributed her being emotional to the weight of the moment. Already, she has made history as the first-ever Filipina to reach a WTA final. Had she won the match, she would have become the first woman from the Philippines to secure a title at this level.
“It’s my first WTA final. It’s a big deal for me and for my country because it’s historic: it’s the first time any Filipina has done anything [like this],” Eala, ranked 74th in the world, said.
“I guess that’s also why I’m so emotional."
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala succumbs to Maya Joint in her first-ever WTA final in Eastbourne Open]
To set up the clash for the crown with Joint, Eala had to go through the qualifying rounds, where she beat Turkey's Zeynep Sönmez and American Hailey Baptiste, before getting past world no. 61 Lucia Bronzetti from Italy, 2017 Roland Garros champ Jelena Ostapenko (via retirement), 42nd-ranked Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine and No. 111 Varvara Gracheva, whom she has just conquered in Nottingham nearly two weeks ago.
Eala said there could have been no more worthy opponent she would have preferred to lose to.
Joint lifted her first title on the clay courts of Rabat just a month ago before following it up with her first trophy on grass.
“First of all, I want to congratulate Maya for a great match and a great tournament,” said the 20-year-old Eala.
“I think you did really well. And I think if I was to lose to anyone this week, it would definitely be you, so congratulations.”
Joint is a year younger than Eala, making their final faceoff the youngest in combined age at Eastbourne since 1981.
After surrendering the first set, Eala roared back to life to even the match in the second set.
With neither player letting up, they saw themselves battling in a third-set tiebreak.
Eala quickly jumped to a 5-2 lead only to squander it for a 5-5 count.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle from there, with Eala getting her first shot at a championship point at 6-5.
The Australian countered to have her own look at a championship point at 7-6.
Eala erased that and even had three more championship points at 8-7, 9-8 and 10-9.
But Joint saved them all, getting her second opportunity to seal it as Eala's two consecutive shots sailed long.
A backhand crosscourt winner ended her agony as she collapsed on the grass after the 2-hour-and-26-minute match that resulted in her lifting the second trophy of her young career.
The World No. 51 also praised Eala after their first meeting.
"Alex, first of all, amazing play and great week. We'll definitely play many more finals. You've been having such an amazing year so great job to you and your team," said Joint.
Eala next heads to Wimbledon where she will try to pull of another upset against defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, also the 2021 Roland Garros winner, in the first round on Tuesday, July 1.
"But it's only the first. I'll definitely work hard to do more. Wimbledon is next week, so hopefully I'll forget about this match soon," said Eala.