Alex Eala rallies past Zheng Qinwen into DC Open Round of 16

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot during a women’s singles match against Qinwen Zheng of China on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala scored a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback victory over Zheng Qinwen of China to advance to the Round of 16 of the Mubadala DC Open.

Eala, playing in the first tournament of her North American hard-court swing, came alive late in the second set to force a decider before racing to a 4-0 lead in the third to seize control of the match.

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Zheng broke serve to get on the board in the deciding set, but Eala answered with a break of her own before serving out the match.

Eala faces Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the defending champion of the WTA 500 event and the seventh seed this year, in the second round.

The Filipino world No. 28 powered through after trailing 4-3 in the second set against Zheng. She reeled off three straight games, including two breaks of serve, to take the match into a decider.

“[My coach] said that I have to keep going because if I’m there every ball, I’ll have my chances. And I did. Like always, he’s right,” Eala said of her comeback.

During the 2026 Mubadala DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on July 28, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Wick Photography for Mubadala DC Open)

Eala recovered after squandering a strong start in the opening set, where she broke early for a 2-0 lead. Zheng, the former world No. 4, responded by winning three straight games to move ahead 5-3 before closing out the set.

Eala also struck first in the second, taking a 3-2 lead before Zheng won back-to-back games to move ahead for her last lead of the match.

READ: Alex Eala leaves PH feeling ‘prouder to represent home’

It was the first meeting between the two on the WTA Tour, but their second overall after their semifinal clash at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where Zheng prevailed.

Eala also acknowledged the sizeable and enthusiastic Filipino crowd that came to watch her Washington, DC debut.

“I think the community here in DC is amazing. I think there was a great atmosphere for both players, and I’m really happy with my win today,” Eala said.