Alexandra Eala became the first player from the Philippines to reach a WTA Tour final after beating Varvara Gracheva 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in the last four at Eastbourne on Friday. Eala survived a tense clash lasting more than two hours to make history in the Wimbledon warm-up event on the grass at Devonshire Park.

Rafael Nadal congratulated his academy student, Alexandra Eala, after she reached her first WTA final at the Eastbourne Open. The 20-year-old Filipina continues to show her rapid adaptation to the top level and secured an epic victory over Varvara Gracheva.