“My First Chance At A Title Knowing It Won’t Be The Last,” Alexandra Eala Said After Becoming the First Player from the Philippines to Win a WTA Title

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"My First Chance At A Title Knowing It Won't Be The Last," Alexandra Eala Said After Becoming the First Player from the Philippines to Win a WTA Title

Alexandra Eala came back from a set down to beat top seed Jessica Pegula and become the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA singles title. She’s just 21, and this is the breakthrough that turns a promising prospect into a name the tour has to reckon with.

Eala trailed Pegula by a set at the rain-delayed Washington Open final before flipping the match, winning 4-6 6-4 6-0 to take the trophy on Monday.

Alexandra Eala kissing the Championship Trophy after winning the Mubadala DC Open 2026 women's singles final
Alexandra Eala kisses the Championship Trophy at the Mubadala DC Open on August 3, 2026, after defeating Jessica Pegula in the women’s singles final in Washington, DC. Photo by Scott Taetsch / Getty Images.

Pegula was chasing a third Washington title after wins in 2019 and 2021, but Eala won 10 of the 13 games played once the match resumed, closing out the decider behind a heavy left-handed serve and fearless baseline hitting.

Alexandra Eala kissing the Championship Trophy after winning the Mubadala DC Open 2026 women's singles title
Alexandra Eala kisses the Championship Trophy at the Mubadala DC Open on August 3, 2026, after claiming the women’s singles title at Washington’s FitzGerald Tennis Center. Photo by Scott Taetsch / Getty Images.

The win stretched her streak against top-10 opponents to five, following victories over Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Elina Svitolina twice. It also lifts her to a career-high world number 20 when the new WTA rankings come out.

Alexandra Eala in action during her third-round Wimbledon match against Iga Swiatek
Alexandra Eala competes in her third-round Wimbledon clash against Iga Swiatek at the All England Club in London on July 4, 2026. Photo by Toby Melville / Reuters.

She started at 4 in the Philippines, training after school with her brother and her grandfather Roberto “Lolo Bob” Maniego, who coached her for roughly a decade. She still dedicates big wins to “younger me” and “all the girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks.”

Alexandra Eala reacting with emotion after winning the Mubadala DC Open 2026 women's singles championship match
Alexandra Eala celebrates her women’s singles victory at the Mubadala DC Open on August 3, 2026, at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington, D.C. Photo by Scott Taetsch / Getty Images.

At 13 she left home for a scholarship at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. Świątek gave the speech at her 2023 graduation. Eala has since beaten her twice.

Alexandra Eala holding the Championship Trophy after winning the Mubadala DC Open 2026 women's singles title in Washington, DC
Alexandra Eala holds the Championship Trophy aloft at the Mubadala DC Open on August 3, 2026, after her historic singles title win at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. Photo by Scott Taetsch / Getty Images.

Washington also closed a loop from last summer, when she reached her first tour final at Eastbourne and lost after holding championship points.

“To see how far you’ve come over the last couple of years when we first played, to see the amazing fans that follow you every place you go, it’s not fun to play against but I think it’s amazing,” Pegula said.

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