Alex Eala stuns Jessica Pegula in DC Open finals for first career WTA title

The sun finally rose in Washington—and with it came Alex Eala's first career title.

The Filipina tennis star regrouped after a 20-hour suspension due to bad weather, stunning top seed and hometown bet Jessica Pegula with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win in the 2026 Mubadala DC Open finals on early Tuesday in Washington DC, USA.

The epic comeback win marked Eala's first WTA 500 title—the biggest triumph of her young career.

A champion is born 🏆

Alex Eala wins her FIRST WTA title!#MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/UAKNrAXEf5

— Mubadala DC Open (@mubadaladcopen) August 3, 2026

By outlasting the 32-year-old veteran, the Filipina also notched her ninth—and seventh this year—career victory over a Top 10 player.

ALL ABOARD THE EALA EXPRESS 🔥

Alexandra Eala secures her first ever WTA Tour title!#MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/uSpxYxWqO5

— wta (@WTA) August 3, 2026

"First of all, of course, first and foremost, congratulations Jessie for an amazing week and you've had an amazing season. It's always a pleasure to share the court with you," Eala said of Pegula.

"I definitely learned so so much, especially from your forehand lines and your backhand crosses. So I'm really looking forward to hopefully many more finals with you."

After dropping the opening set and taking a slim 2-1 lead in the second before bad weather suspended the match, Eala picked up right where she left off when play resumed.

Eala grabbed a 4-3 lead in the second set before Pegula leveled the frame at 4-4 after the Filipina committed back-to-back errors in the eighth game.

Unfazed, Eala responded by holding serve in the next game then capitalized on three consecutive errors from the American in the 10th to clinch the set, 6-4, and force a deciding third.

It was all Eala in the deciding set as the Filipina blanked Pegula in a near-flawless display to complete the comeback and capture her first career title.

—JMB, GMA News