Rising Philippine star Alexandra Eala delivered another stunning win on Saturday, defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the final of the Mubadala DC Open, a WTA 500 event.
The victory marks Eala as the first Filipina to reach a WTA 500 singles final. The 21-year-old left-hander controlled the match with strong baseline play and consistent returning, breaking Osaka early in both sets. After sealing the win, Eala celebrated enthusiastically before sharing a warm handshake at the net with her opponent, and the celebration is something everyone has been talking about on the internet.
Watch: Rising tennis star Eala’s celebration goes viral after stunning Osaka to reach first WTA 500 final
Eala’s run in Washington has been remarkable. She has already defeated reigning Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, defending champion Leylah Fernandez, and second seed Elina Svitolina en route to the final. Since June, her notable scalps also include Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and Elena Rybakina in Berlin, cementing her reputation as a giant-killer and one of the tour’s brightest emerging talents.
Eala will face top seed Jessica Pegula, who defeated Diana Shnaider in the other semifinal. A win would give the Filipino sensation her first WTA title and continue her rapid ascent up the rankings. Meanwhile, the final has been suspended due to bad weather and has been moved to the following day.
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