Eala and Bueno join distinguished list of winners at Trofeo Bonfiglio
The back catalogue of champions at the prestigious Trofeo Bonfiglio tournament is long and distinguished and Alexandra Eala of the Philippines and Peru’s Gonzalo Bueno are the latest to etch their names onto the winners’ board.
Topping the podium at JA Milan represents a career-best title for Bueno, who claimed a silverware at J3 San Jose in April, while it is a second Grade A accolade for Eala, someone already versed in triumphing within the professional ranks.
Eala and Bueno now join the likes of Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Elena Rybakina, Belinda Bencic, Marketa Vondrousova, Alexei Popyrin and Katerina Siniakova – all recent winners on the clay courts of Milan.
Bueno twice recovered from a set as he barged his way to the final where he beat Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik in straight sets, with the 17-year-old hopes this success has lain the foundations for others.
“This tournament, this victory, this all means a lot for me,” said Bueno. “It’s a privilege, this is the most important tournament I ever won in my career so far and I am very happy that I won this wonderful trophy here in Milan.
“Such a great history, lots of champions have played and won here. It’s amazing. I hope this is only the very start of my career. Reading my name in the list of past champions here is a real honor for me. I’m really proud of myself right now.
“I know that I’m training very well, I am doing the right things and from now on I just want to work even harder to improve my game and to be a better player in the future.”
The celebrations for Eala, meanwhile, were two-fold as she conquered all before her in the singles and doubles. Eala's singles odyssey culminated in victory over Czech Nikola Bartunkova in the final. In her fourth junior event of the season, the teenager also teamed up with Madison Sieg of the United States to navigate the draw and defeat Lucija Ciric Bagaric of Croatia and Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas in the final.
“I was feeling very good on court but also my opponent was playing very well,” said Eala, who tasted success at W15 Manacor in January.
“It was a tough match and it was very hot, but I’m from the Philippines so it’s not something very new to me – it was not much of a problem. I’m happy I was able to sustain all the way my game and my level throughout the whole final.
“The third round [against Russia’s Ksenia Zaytseva] and quarter-final [against Costoulas] were the most difficult moments I had to face during my week in Milan. Two very long matches in a row, almost three hours each, it was quite challenging.
“I spent so many hours on court, I played a lot of matches in doubles too, getting the chance to win that title as well. I think it was physically very tough, but I was able to do my routines and recover well.”
In the boys’ doubles final, meanwhile, Lithuania’s Edas Butvilas, who triumphed in the doubles at the Junior Championships, Wimbledon last month, joined compatriot Vilius Gaubas in overcoming Russia’s Igor Kudriashov and Konstantin Zhzhenov.