Philippine tennis star Alexandra Eala has claimed her first WTA Tour singles title, setting a new record, and the country is celebrating. The rising tennis star defeated top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the final of the Mubadala DC Open.
The 21-year-old, ranked No. 28 entering the week, became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level singles title, making her country proud at a young age. The final was delayed due to bad weather and was moved to the following day from the original schedule.
Rising tennis star Alex Eala creates history, wins first WTA Tour title
The victory at the WTA 500 hard-court event also marked her as the first Southeast Asian to claim a title at that level or higher. Play in the final began on Sunday but was suspended due to heavy rain and lightning, with Pegula leading. When the match resumed on Monday, Eala seized control, winning the second set and then dominating the third with a 6-0 bagel. She closed out the contest in emphatic fashion after trailing early.
Eala’s breakthrough run featured impressive wins over several top players, including defending champion Leylah Fernandez, second seed Elina Svitolina, and third seed Naomi Osaka. The title is projected to propel her into the world’s top 20 for the first time, reaching a career-high ranking ahead of the upcoming North American hard-court swing.
Following the stunning achievement, Eala expressed gratitude to her family and team, noting the milestone felt like a major career achievement regardless of the outcome. The win has sparked widespread celebration among Filipino fans, highlighting Eala’s rapid rise as one of Asia’s most promising talents on the WTA Tour.
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