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Filipino Alexandra Eala beats No. 3 Pegula for historic WTA title

8/4/2026

46 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Eala Wins

Alexandra Eala beat world No. 3 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to win the Mubadala DC Open, earning $252,000, 500 points and becoming the first Filipino WTA singles champion.
Rain halted the final twice, first after three hours on Sunday and again overnight before Monday play.
She will play the National Bank Open in Toronto on August 5 versus the Parks-Kasintseva winner, with Pegula calling her ‘the future of the tour.’

History

Eala Makes History

Alexandra Eala captured a historic WTA singles title, the first for a Filipino.
Eleven Philippine senators filed resolutions congratulating her and honoring the win.
Manny Pacquiao (former boxing champion) and Hidilyn Diaz (Olympic weightlifter) posted Instagram messages praising her Filipino fighting spirit.
She previously won a WTA 125 title in Birmingham, an ITF W100 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, and reached a career-high No. 28.

Summary

Eala Eyes 200km/h

Eala wants her serve to reach 200 km/h despite current limits.
She won 9 of 10 points on her second serve against Naomi Osaka, a 90 % success rate.
Eala called the feeling of her first WTA title pure happiness.
Eala said she checks her ranking only sometimes, focusing on match wins and improvement.
She said the win erased the sting of losing four championship points at last year’s Eastbourne final.

History

Historical Context

When Manny Pacquiao captured the WBC flyweight title, he became a world-champion boxer and prompted congressional resolutions and nationwide celebration. His breakthrough set a precedent for Filipino athletes, a legacy echoed in 2024 when 19-year-old Alex Eala won the Mubadala DC Open, earning a $252,000 prize and the nation’s first WTA singles crown.

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Eala Wins

Alexandra Eala beat world No. 3 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to win the Mubadala DC Open, earning $252,000, 500 points and becoming the first Filipino WTA singles champion.
Rain halted the final twice, first after three hours on Sunday and again overnight before Monday play.
She will play the National Bank Open in Toronto on August 5 versus the Parks-Kasintseva winner, with Pegula calling her ‘the future of the tour.’

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