Alex Eala finally captured her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 500 title as she defeated world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, in the final of the Washington Open on Tuesday at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C.

Entering the court fully rested after the match was postponed last Monday due to inclement weather and armed with a 2-1 lead in the second set, the 21-year-old Eala found a way to break Pegula’s serve to force a deciding Set 3.

It was in the third set Eala went for the kill as she bageled Pegula for the title.

The win was vindication for Eala, who lost to Pegula in the semifinal of the Miami Open last year.

She will pocket $252,000 or around P15 million and 500 points as she is poised to break into the Top 20 of the WTA.