Eala's breakthrough is complete with Washington title
Alexandra Eala has become the first tennis player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title after defeating Jessica Pegula at the Mubadala DC Open. The victory follows a rain-delayed final and marks a significant career milestone for the 20-year-old athlete.
Why it matters
Represents a historic sporting achievement for the Philippines and signals a rising star in professional tennis.
For the first time, the Philippines has a champion on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, and her name is Alexandra Eala.
The 20-year-old's history-making efforts for her country took another step Monday, as she came from behind to finish a victory against top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the rain-delayed final of the Mubadala DC Open.
The match was suspended on Sunday night after extensive rainfall with Pegula leading 6-4, 1-2. But from 6-4, 4-3 behind, the Filipina wrestled control away and never looked back. She won the last nine games, including a 6-0 third set where she dropped just eight points.
Eala confessed afterwards that the inclement weather brought about "a crazy 24 hours," and the highest-stakes rain delay of her career so far.
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