Alexandra Eala stuns Jessica Pegula to clinch historic Washington Open title

WEB DESK: Alexandra Eala produced a stunning comeback to defeat top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 and win the Washington Open after the rain-delayed final resumed on Monday, becoming the first Filipino player to capture a WTA Tour-level singles title.

The 21-year-old resumed the match trailing by a set but holding a 2-1 lead in the second after Sunday’s final was delayed by nearly three hours and later suspended overnight due to persistent rain.

Pegula, aiming to secure her third Washington Open crown after triumphs in 2019 and 2021, struggled to regain control as Eala seized the momentum following the restart.

The Filipina dominated the remainder of the contest, winning 10 of the final 13 games. She claimed the second set before cruising through the decider with powerful left-handed serving and aggressive baseline play, earning loud support from the crowd despite competing on Pegula’s home turf.

The victory also marked Eala’s fifth consecutive win over a top-10 opponent, adding Pegula to an impressive list that includes Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina (twice), and Iga Swiatek.

The landmark triumph is set to lift Eala to a career-high world No. 20 when the latest WTA rankings are released.