As the dust settled from the US Open last week, attention shifted to the WTA 125 circuit, where three remarkable titles were claimed by rising stars. Alexandra Eala, Maja Chwalinska, and Veronika Erjavec each secured championships in Guadalajara, Montreux, and Changsha respectively, showcasing their growing talents on the international tennis stage.
In Guadalajara, Mexico, Alexandra Eala etched her name in history once again, this time as the first Filipino woman to win a WTA title. Eala’s journey began with a wild-card entry into the Guadalajara 125 Open, where she entered as the No. 2 seed. Just two weeks prior, she made headlines by becoming the first Filipino to win a main-draw match at a Grand Slam during her impressive run at the US Open.
The 20-year-old demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the tournament. Her second-round match against Varvara Lepchenko turned into a marathon, lasting over three hours and being split across two days. Eala triumphed 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-3, showcasing her fighting spirit. In the quarter-finals, she faced Nicole Fossa Huergo and came back from behind, winning 7-6(2) 6-2.
In the final, Eala faced a familiar foe in Panna Udvardy, who had previously defeated her in an earlier tournament. After losing the first set 1-6, Eala staged a thrilling comeback, taking the match 1-6 7-5 6-3. Despite missing multiple set points, she maintained her composure to clinch the win and the title.
Meanwhile, in Montreux, Switzerland, Maja Chwalinska captured the Montreux Nestlé Open crown. The Polish player faced an uphill battle in the tournament, starting off with a shocking first-set loss against top seed Jil Teichmann. However, Chwalinska rebounded to secure a 0-6 6-4 6-1 victory, marking her third Top 100 win of the season.
From that point on, Chwalinska dominated her opponents, conceding only 16 games in her last four matches. She reached the final with convincing wins over Arantxa Rus and Darja Semenistaja, sealing a 6-1 6-2 victory in just 80 minutes. This win marked her second WTA 125 title, adding to her success from December.
In Changsha, China, Veronika Erjavec captured the title in her first significant non-Grand Slam tournament victory. The Slovenian, previously more successful in the Grand Slams, navigated through tough encounters to reach the final. She defeated Lanlana Tararudee in a nail-biting quarter-final and overcame qualifier Ekaterina Reyngold in the semis to set up a clash with Maria Timofeeva.
In the final, Erjavec showcased her dominance, sweeping Timofeeva off the court with a decisive 6-1 6-2 victory, solidifying her rising status within the WTA rankings. The tournament also saw Eudice Chong and Liang En-Shuo of Chinese Taipei take the doubles title with a 7-5 6-3 win against their opponents.
These victories not only highlight the exceptional talent of these young players but also emphasize the increasing competitiveness and depth in women’s tennis today. With their recent achievements, Eala, Chwalinska, and Erjavec are certainly names to watch as the tennis season continues to unfold.
