Alexandra Eala completed a stunning comeback to claim her first WTA title at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington. After losing the opening set 6-4 to Jessica Pegula, the Filipina star had a 2-1 lead in the second before thunderstorms halted the final. Returning the next day, Eala dominated the restart, winning 10 of the next 13 games and sealing the championship with a decisive final-set bagel, 4-6 6-4 6-0.
It is a historic day for the Philippines, as the 21-year-old Eala has become the first player from the country to win a WTA Tour title. In her only previous final, on the grass court of Eastbourne in 2025, she fell short to Maya Joint.
The victory will also see Eala rise from No. 28 into the Top 20 of the PIF WTA Rankings for the first time in her career.
Making her Washington debut, Eala faced a very tough path to lift the WTA 500 trophy. The Filipina defeated a series of major champions and Grand Slam contenders throughout the week, starting with 2024 Australian Open finalist and Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in the opening round. She then overcame defending champion and 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, four-time Grand Slam semifinalist and former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in the semifinals, and finally 2024 US Open finalist and world No. 3 Pegula in the final.
Eala now owns nine career wins over Top 10 opponents. As the Mubadala Citi DC Open champion, she earned $252,000 in prize money, while Pegula took home $155,000 as the runner-up.
