Alex Eala just getting started after WTA Tour breakthrough title

Alex Eala of the Philippines poses with the Championship Trophy after winning the women’s singles championship match against Jessica Pegula of the United States on the final day of the Mubadala DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines–Before facing Alex Eala in the DC Open final, American World No. 3 Jessica Pegula heaped high praise on the Filipino rising star.

“She’s the future of the tour, and she’s already here,” Pegula declared.

Pegula couldn’t be more right. Eala has arrived.

READ: Alex Eala wins Mubadala DC Open, stuns Jessica Pegula

Alexandra Eala jumps for joy with her new trophy 🏆#MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/hp604IMrew

— wta (@WTA) August 3, 2026

The 21-year-old Eala overwhelmed the top-seeded Pegula in the last two sets of their rain-delayed final, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, to claim her first WTA Tour title early Tuesday in Washington, DC.

Eala believes winning her first is just the beginning of many more final appearances.

“Before the final yesterday, I got so many sweet messages from my family and my friends. I thought to myself, I feel so much love. Standing here in the middle of all this love, my first chance at a title, knowing it won’t be my last,” said Eala, who now has seven wins against a top 10 player this season.

“Already having achieved this feat and this milestone for my career, I knew that whatever would’ve happened after this match, it would’ve already been a win for me. Thank you everybody. I really look forward to seeing you guys again.”

Eala, who entered the top 20 in the WTA rankings, also expects more matches against Pegula in the future.

“It’s always a pleasure to share the court with you. I definitely learned so, so much, especially from your forehand lines and backhand crosses, so I’m really looking forward to many more finals with you,” she said in the post-match interview.

Eala and Pegula could face each other again deep in the Canadian Open in Toronto. Eala, seeded 25th, begins her title bid in the WTA 1000 hard court event against American Alycia Parks in the round of 64 on Wednesday (Manila time).