Alex Eala to face Jessica Pegula in DC Open finals

Alexandra "Alex" Eala is set to make her first appearance in a WTA 500 final when she takes on world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States in the DC Open championship match.

Eala advanced to the final after stunning four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-2, in the semifinals. Pegula, meanwhile, defeated Diana Shnaider, 7-5, 6-4, to book her place in the title match.

The final will mark the second meeting between Eala and Pegula on the WTA Tour.

Their first encounter came in the semifinals of the Miami Open earlier this year, where Pegula prevailed in a hard-fought three-set battle, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3, ending Eala's breakthrough run.

Pegula, a former US Open finalist, has won 11 WTA singles titles and enters the championship match as the tournament's top seed.

For Eala, the DC Open final marks the biggest title match of her career and her first in a WTA 500 event. It is also her first tour-level final on a hard court.

The Filipina previously reached the final of the WTA 250 Eastbourne Open on grass last year, where she finished runner-up to Maya Joint.

—JKC, GMA News