Maya Joint captures Eastbourne title in thrilling final, ends Alexandra Eala’s historic run

In a breathtaking final at the WTA Eastbourne International, Australian teenager Maya Joint clinched her second WTA title by defeating Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala in a three-set epic that lasted two hours and 26 minutes. The 19-year-old rose to the occasion in the youngest Eastbourne final since 1981, sealing a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(10) victory after saving four match points in a tense final-set tiebreak.

A Star is Rising: Maya Joint’s breakthrough continues

Coming into Eastbourne ranked world No. 51, Maya Joint had already shown her grass-court prowess with commanding victories over former Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Her title win on clay in Rabat in May had marked her arrival, but this Eastbourne triumph signals her emergence as a legitimate contender across surfaces — just days before the start of Wimbledon 2025.

In the final, Joint displayed nerves of steel, drilling a backhand winner to clinch the match in the decisive tiebreak before collapsing to the turf in sheer elation. Her resilience and shot-making in critical moments underline her reputation as one of the brightest young stars on the WTA Tour.

She now heads into Wimbledon full of confidence and will also feature in the Eastbourne doubles final later today alongside Hsieh Su-wei.

Heartbreak for Eala, but historic feat for Philippines

For 20-year-old Alexandra Eala, the final was a bittersweet moment. While she came agonizingly close to becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour title, Eala's incredible run through Eastbourne has captured hearts and raised expectations for the future.

After coming through qualifying, the world No. 74 defeated a formidable lineup, including:

• Lucia Bronzetti
• Jelena Ostapenko (former French Open champion)
• Dayana Yastremska (Nottingham finalist)
• Varvara Gracheva (semifinal opponent)

Eala was also a breakout star earlier this year at the Miami Open, stunning the tennis world with victories over Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and Iga Swiatek en route to the semifinals.

During the trophy presentation, an emotional Eala was seen holding back tears — a testament to how close she came to history. Yet, her Eastbourne campaign has etched her name into the record books and solidified her as Southeast Asia's most promising tennis export.

What’s Next: Wimbledon showdowns ahead

Both Joint and Eala will now turn their attention to Wimbledon 2025, starting Monday.

• Maya Joint enters the Grand Slam on a wave of momentum and will be seeded for the first time at a major.
• Alexandra Eala is set for a tough Centre Court showdown in the first round against reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, who is battling a thigh injury that forced her withdrawal from Eastbourne earlier this week. That match could open another opportunity for Eala to shine on the sport’s biggest stage.

SportsLigue