Alex Eala stuns Naomi Osaka, reaches DC Open finals

Alexandra "Alex" Eala stunned four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-2, in the semifinals of the DC Open to advance to her first WTA 500 final.

The victory sends Eala to her second WTA Tour final above the WTA 125 level, following her runner-up finish at the Eastbourne Open last year. It also marks her first tour-level final on a hard court.

Osaka took the opening game of the match, but Eala responded by winning the next two to seize a 2-1 lead. Osaka battled back to move ahead, 3-2, before Eala leveled the set at 3-3. After Osaka edged back in front, Eala reeled off the final three games to secure the opening set, 6-4.

Eala carried that momentum into the second set, racing to a 2-0 advantage before Osaka got on the board. The Filipina maintained control and extended her lead to 4-2 after fending off Osaka's attempts to close the gap. Osaka's unforced errors proved costly as Eala moved within a game of victory at 5-2 before sealing the match with her aggressive play.

"One more match, I guess, but I'm super, super happy," Eala said after her victory.

"I think I played really well and, of course, such a meaningful match against a great player. So really happy to share the court with Naomi."

Eala said she gave her all against a competitor like Osaka.

"I guess, just the way I approach today's match could never count her out. You know, and like I said, I was so I had to be so locked in and I made it a point to be so locked in, which is why until now I'm still in that mode of kind of competition," a shocked Eala said.

Eala will face Jessica Pegula in the final, setting up a rematch of their Miami Open semifinal last year, where the American ended the Filipina's breakthrough run.

"I think I just have to trust myself. I'm in the final for a reason. She is such an amazing player also for a reason, so I think it's going to be a really good match," she said about Pegula.

HIGHLIGHTS | Alex Eala vs Naomi Osaka (DC Open semfiinals)

—JKC, GMA News