Alexandra Eala made history at the Washington Open by capturing the first WTA singles title by a Filipino player. The 21-year-old defeated top seed Jessica Pegula in a final that was significantly impacted by weather conditions in the nation’s capital.
The match was originally scheduled for Sunday but was postponed to Monday due to rain and lightning. During the initial attempt, Pegula, ranked third in the world, claimed the first set 6-4. Play was halted when Eala held a 2-1 lead in the second set, with conditions deteriorating enough to cancel the remainder of that day’s competition.
When the match resumed on Monday, momentum shifted decisively in Eala’s favor. Pegula won only three additional games as Eala secured the second set and dominated the final set to complete a 4-6 6-4 6-0 victory. Eala credited her powerful left-handed serve and aggressive baseline play for the turnaround. Following the win, her world ranking is projected to reach a career-high of 20, up from 28th.
Pegula, a 32-year-old American who won this same tournament in 2019 and 2021, offered gracious remarks about her opponent’s achievements. Prior to the final, Pegula had described Eala as “the future of the tour,” acknowledging the young player’s rapid rise. Eala’s victory extends her winning streak against top-10 opponents to five consecutive matches, including victories over Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina twice, and Iga Swiatek.
In the men’s final, third-seeded American Taylor Fritz defeated 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar 7-6 (7-2) 6-4, securing his 11th ATP title and first since Eastbourne the previous year.
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