Alexandra Eala made history on Monday by becoming the first Filipina to claim a WTA Tour singles title, triumphing at the DC Open. The 21-year-old secured the championship after a hard-fought victory over top-seeded Jessica Pegula, finishing 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the final match.
Eala’s impressive run to the title involved toppling several high-ranked opponents. Early in the tournament, she defeated No. 7 seed Leylah Fernandez in the second round, followed by a quarterfinal victory against No. 2 seed Elina Svitolina. Her momentum continued as she overcame No. 3 seed Naomi Osaka in the semifinals, setting up the final showdown against Pegula.
Alex Eala Completes Comeback Over Jessica Pegula in DC Open Final
The championship match, initially played on Sunday, was interrupted by rain with Pegula leading after the first set and holding serve early in the second. When play resumed the next day, Eala displayed remarkable resilience and composure. She surged ahead by winning four consecutive games to claim the second set and then dominated the final set without dropping a single game, sealing her victory emphatically.