Alexandra Eala makes history with WTA Tour title

Alexandra Eala made history for the Philippines on Monday, August 3, 2026, by winning her first WTA Tour singles title, a major milestone as she became the first player from her country to achieve this feat. Eala achieved this victory by defeating top seed Jessica Pegula in a match that concluded with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 after the weather-delayed final at the Washington Open resumed on Monday.

Eala, 21, exhibited incredible composure and skill throughout the tournament, culminating in a stunning comeback against Pegula, the world No 3. The match had been suspended overnight due to persistent rain, having started nearly three hours late on Sunday. Eala resumed the match trailing by a set but was leading 2-1 in the second set before securing victory by winning 10 out of the 13 games played post-restart and dominating the final set.

Eala’s path to victory included significant wins over players such as reigning Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and last year’s Washington champion Leylah Fernandez, along with formidable competitors like Elina Svitolina and Naomi Osaka. After winning the final set, Eala only dropped eight points, bolstered by enthusiastic support from her fans, despite Pegula's home-court advantage.

Following her win, Eala expressed her joy, stating: "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. I knew whatever happened after this match would have already been a win for me."

Pegula, who was vying for her third title at the Washington Open after previous victories in 2019 and 2021, acknowledged Eala’s remarkable performance. "I want to congratulate Alex on an amazing tournament," Pegula remarked. She commended Eala’s progress over the years and thanked fans for their support.

With this victory, Eala not only clinched her first title but also extended her winning streak against top-10 players to five matches. The young star was set to rise to a career-high ranking of world No 20 once the WTA rankings were updated.