Alexandra Eala Wins First WTA Title at DC Open, Making History for the Philippines

In a historic moment for Filipino tennis, Alexandra Eala triumphed at the DC Open, defeating Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to secure her first WTA Tour title. This victory makes Eala, 21, the first Filipina to win a singles title on the tour. The match concluded on Monday after being delayed due to rain, echoing the sentiment on Eala’s Nike T-shirt, which read, “Once it grows, it cannot be stopped.”

“At the beginning of the week, there’s no way I would have thought that I would be holding this trophy,” Eala remarked, expressing her disbelief at winning a high-level tournament. “Winning a 500 [level tournament] is insane. It’s an incredible milestone for me.”

The men’s final saw third-seeded Taylor Fritz claim victory over Rafael Jodar with a score of 7-6 (2), 6-4. Fritz broke Jodar twice early in the second set and ultimately converted his fifth championship point after missing four earlier chances. Following his win, Fritz took a moment on the court, visibly relieved to secure his 11th career title.

Eala’s performance throughout the tournament garnered significant attention, with Philippine flags prominently displayed in the stands and enthusiastic crowd support, which often overshadowed that of Pegula, the top-ranked American player. “It’s not fun to play against, but I do appreciate the really fun atmosphere,” Pegula said, complimenting the crowd.

The championship match was marked by intense competition, beginning with Eala and Pegula trading breaks until Pegula served out the first set at love. Rain interrupted the match on Sunday, with Eala leading 2-1 in the second set. Upon their return, Eala gained momentum, ultimately winning the final eight games of the match and securing victory over all three top seeds in the tournament.

After her win, Eala was overcome with emotion, dropping to the court and rising to share a heartfelt embrace with Pegula at the net. “I was so nervous, and I kind of just blacked out,” Eala recalled. “Everything just came rushing to me.”

Her achievement drew praise from former world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who celebrated her victory on social media, highlighting her comeback as a testament to the “heart of a Filipino” and labeling her “our new champion.”

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn