Eala Makes History as First Filipina WTA Title Winner

Alexandra Eala collapsed to the ground in tears after the umpire called the winning point, realizing her country had been with her through every step of the Washington Open tournament. She overcame weather delays and the loss of the first set to defeat world number three Jessica Pegula in the final, making her the first Filipina to win a WTA title. Eala expressed her gratitude, saying, "To the Filipino community, here in DC and back home, wherever you are in the world. I really feel all the love."

Jess Pegula commented on the impressive crowd for the final held on a Monday, stating, "I can definitely confirm this is the best Monday final crowd I’ve seen. I’m sure some people took off work. I won’t tell them where you guys were."

Former world number one Rafael Nadal congratulated Eala on X, stating: "A well-deserved title for all the hard work."

This victory was a significant milestone for the 21-year-old Eala, who first picked up a racket at the age of four. She recounted her early training days, saying, "I went to train every day after school with my ruffled socks, light-up shoes and chubby cheeks." After joining Nadal’s academy and graduating in 2023, where her diploma was presented by Iga Swiatek, Eala made headlines by being the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon.

Eala’s remarkable performance at the Washington Open showcased her talent, as she defeated the top three seeds, including Pegula and Naomi Osaka, who called her "the future of the tour."

In 2022, Eala graced the cover of Vogue Philippines after becoming the first Filipina to win a junior Grand Slam title. Her victory against Swiatek at the 2025 Miami Open brought renewed interest in tennis in the Philippines. Fans from the Filipino community, numbering over 75,000 in Washington and four million across the US, rallied to support her as she prepared for the US Open in late August. Pegula noted, "To all the Filipino fans that came out and have supported, you guys are helping grow tennis around the world."

Manny Pacquiao praised Eala's resilience and labeled her as "our new champion," showing support for the athlete’s journey.

Greg Rusedski, former British number one, labeled Eala "the most exciting player on the WTA Tour," praising her fearless play and potential for further development in her serving technique. Meanwhile, Andy Roddick described her as "the real deal," highlighting her ability to compete against top players without fear.