Tag: Alex Eala

Washington now has a new queen, and she needed two days to claim her crown.

After hours of weather delays, organizers of the Mubadala DC Open postponed the women's singles final between Alex Eala and Jessica Pegula to noon Monday (midnight Tuesday in Manila) to allow the championship match to resume under safer conditions. Play was repeatedly interrupted by rain, forcing officials to suspend action for the safety of players and spectators. World No. 3 and top seed Pegula rallied from an early 3-4 deficit to capture the opening set, 6-4. Eala responded by taking the first game of the second set and built a 2-1 lead before another downpour halted play once again. Organizers said Sunday’s tickets will be honored while 1,000 more will be offered to fans who want to watch the finals.

Alex Eala’s bid for the biggest title of her career was put on hold after persistent rain repeatedly disrupted the Mubadala DC Open final against top seed Jessica Pegula. The championship match was delayed for hours before play started, only to be suspended again for the safety of players and spectators. Eala surged to a 4-3 lead in the opening set and created several chances to move within a game of the set before World No. 3 Pegula rallied to win three straight games for a 6-4 advantage. Eala claimed the second-set opener before trailing 2-1 when play stopped.

Alex Eala booked the biggest final of her young career in emphatic fashion, sweeping four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-2, on Sunday to reach her first-ever WTA 500 championship match at the Mubadala DC Open.

The phrase first appeared almost quietly, embroidered on the back of Alex Eala's visor during her breakthrough run at Wimbledon. They have followed her ever since, becoming as much a part of her game as the shadow swings she takes between points.