Alex Eala wins first WTA title, Taylor Fritz claims Washington crown

Alexandra Eala became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level singles title and Taylor Fritz claimed his first trophy of the season after both rain-delayed Washington Open finals were completed on Aug 3.

Eala stunned top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 after the weather-hit women’s final resumed with the 21-year-old trailing by a set but leading 2-1 in the second, while third seed Fritz beat Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar 7-6 (2), 6-4 in a tight men’s decider.

“I feel so much love. My first chance at a title knowing it won’t be the last and already having achieved this milestone for my career,” Eala said on court. “I knew whatever happened after this match would have already been a win for me.”

Pegula, chasing a third Washington title after lifting the trophy in 2019 and 2021, was unable to stop the momentum swinging decisively in Eala’s favour.

The Filipina won 10 of the 13 games played after the restart, securing the second set before racing through the decider behind a dominant left-handed serve and fearless baseline hitting that drew increasingly vocal support from a partisan crowd despite Pegula playing on home soil.

“I want to congratulate Alex on an amazing tournament,” world No. 3 Pegula said.

“To see how far you’ve come over the last couple of years when we first played, to see the amazing fans that follow you every place you go, it’s not fun to play against, but I think it’s amazing.”

The victory extended Eala’s winning streak against top-10 opponents to five matches following victories over Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, twice, and Iga Swiatek.

The breakthrough title will propel Eala to a career-high world No. 20 when the new WTA rankings are released.

She will also be coming to the Republic for the Sept 21-27 Singapore Tennis Open.

“Singapore has a really special place in my heart and I still remember competing there at the WTA Future Stars as a junior player,” said Eala previously.

“I have always enjoyed playing in Singapore because it’s so close to home and it’s great to have a WTA 500 event in South-east Asia.”

Fritz delivers

Fritz, meanwhile, captured his first title of the year after edging 19-year-old Jodar in a contest delayed overnight by the same rain that interrupted the women’s championship.

Neither player dropped serve in the opening set before the American dominated the tiebreak, then broke early in the second and held firm despite late pressure from the Spaniard.

The victory gives Fritz momentum heading into the Canadian Open, the final ATP Masters 1000 event before the US Open, where the home favourite will again be among the leading American hopes to end the country’s men’s Grand Slam singles title drought dating back to Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph in New York. REUTERS

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