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.
The meaning behind the milestone
In her last appearance in a tour-level singles final, Eala came up agonizingly short. She had four championship points against Maya Joint at the Lexus Eastbourne Open last year, but fell in a third-set tiebreak.
Eala now is tied with Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina with seven Top 10 victories this season.
More to come…