Picture-perfect: Eala captures JPeg, first WTA title in HD
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Filipina rising star Alex Eala secured her first career WTA Tour singles title in the Mubadala DC Open by seizing world no. 3 Jessica Pegula in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday (Manila time).
As Eala earned 500 ranking points in this victory, she is set to jump eight notches up to the WTA rankings, landing to her career-high rank, no. 20 from no. 28
“I feel so much love. My first chance at a title knowing it won’t be the last and already having achieved this milestone for my career,” Eala shared.
“I knew whatever happened after this match would have already been a win for me.” she added.
Pegula held the driver’s seat in the first set which was played last 3 August but was suspended in the middle of the second set due to the continuous rain.
In the continuation of their battle, the two went straight for a nip-and-tuck affair in the second set to which Eala prevailed, 6-4, to force a decider.
The final frame bore a different story as Eala seemed to break Pegula’s composure as she surprisingly leaned on her weakest link, her service, to display full dominance.
Eala was able to turn the waves into her favor as the two marked their previous meeting at the semifinals of 2025 Miami Open where the 32-year-old American edged Eala, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3.
En route to the Philippines' first-ever WTA 500 crown, Eala slammed and shattered some tough walls.
Eala outlasted reigning Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the round of 16 before moving on to the round of 32 where she faced the tour's defending champion, Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez in a 6-2, 7(7)-6(1).
The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate then scored her second win against world no. 10 Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals in a dominant fashion, 6-3, 6-4, and continued her hot-streak against world no. 13 Naomi Osaka after a 6-4, 6-2 win.
