By el Amigo
MANILA — Alex Eala delivered the finest performance of her young career, defeating world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in three sets to capture the Mubadala DC Open title and become the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour singles championship.
Eala battled back from an opening-set loss to stun the top-seeded American, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, completing a memorable championship run that is expected to propel her to a career-best world ranking of No. 20.
The title match was interrupted by severe weather on Sunday after rain and thunderstorms forced organizers to suspend play with Eala trailing, 4-6, 1-2. When the match resumed on Monday, the Filipina seized momentum, outplaying Pegula in every aspect of the game.
After claiming the second set, 6-4, Eala overwhelmed the world No. 3 in the decider, not conceding a single game to seal a commanding 6-0 victory.
The championship is Eala’s first WTA singles title and represents the biggest milestone of her professional career to date. Her victory also establishes a new benchmark for Philippine and Southeast Asian tennis, making her the first player from the region to claim a WTA Tour-level singles crown.
Eala’s breakthrough success in Washington is expected to be remembered as a defining moment in Philippine sports history, highlighting her rise among the world’s elite and signaling an exciting future for the country’s top tennis star.
elamigo/
