BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom — Alexandra Ila received her second WTA 125 singles title on Sunday with a hard-fought victory over doubles companion Nikola Bartunkova within the Birmingham Open remaining.
Prime-seeded Ila fought again from a set right down to defeat Bartunkova 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
Aira, who turned 21 final month, has develop into a worldwide sensation amongst many within the Filipino diaspora since reaching the semifinals of final 12 months’s Miami Open.
Her fan base then expanded once more when she defeated Clara Thorson within the first spherical of the U.S. Open after a protracted third-set tiebreak for her first main victory.
Two weeks later, Aira received the Guadalajara 125 Open, changing into the primary lady to characterize the Philippines to win a challenger-level WTA title.
Aira, who relies on the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, attracted additional consideration at this 12 months’s Australian Open, the closest Grand Slam to the Philippines.
