Knockout Artist: Eala Rolls Osaka for Maiden Hard-Court Final in Washington, DC

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 1, 2026
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook

Turning her back to the court, Alexandra Eala tuned up for battle taking shadow swings like a boxer throwing blows coming out of the corner.

Ripping menacing drives down the line, Eala knocked Naomi Osaka out 6-4, 6-2 to roll into her maiden hard court final at the Mubadala DC Open as fans waved Philippine flags in celebration.

“I’m super proud of my performance,” Eala told Tennis Channel’s Brett Haber. “I think played really well. I had a great mentality and I stayed locked in all day.”

It is Eala’s second Tour-level final following her loss to Maya Joint in the 2025 Eastbourne final on grass.

The 21-year-old Filipina phenom was not fazed facing one of the game’s most imposing servers. Eala converted four of 12 break points and repeatedly jolted Osaka rocketing returns that left the Japanese lunging.

Though the Eala second serve is her shakiest stroke, she confounded Osaka with her slider serve today. Eala won a mind-boggling 15 of 19 second-serve points, including taking nine of 10 second-serve points in the first set.

Though Eala’s second serve was the slowest of the four semifinalists, Osaka was reluctant to alter her return position, move up closer to the baseline and try to take the return on the rise.

That may have been because Eala was consistently stinging the former two-time US Open champion with stinging first strikes to stretch the court and put Osaka in off balance positions.

It all added up to Eala’s seventh Top 20 win of the season propelling her to a career-high ranking of No. 24 in the WTA Live Rankings. Eala effectively used Osaka’s power against her.

“She definitely has aura and she definitely has power, I can tell you,” Eala said. “I remember watching her finals in the Australian Open and also in the US Open finals.

“So really a great experience to share the court wit hher. So I’m really happy I could produce that level against her.”

Eala will play for her maiden title tomorrow against top-seeded Jessica Pegula at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Unleashing a five-game surge, Pegula dispatched Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-4, to roar into her second career Mubadala DC Open final today.

The third-ranked Pegula raised her 2026 record to 38-9 reaching her fourth final of the year.

In their lone career clash, Pegula fought off Eala 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 in the Miami Open semifinals on March 27th, 2025.

Eala, who took down 10th-ranked Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 6-4, in the quarterfinals will try to defeat another Top 10 player in Pegula.

“If I compare myself now to then, I’m more well rounded,” Eala said. “I think I’m physically a little better. I’ve improved a couple of my strokes. Maybe my forehand and serve is also improved.

“I would say everything, all of the kind of aspects have improved at the same pace. But then again, each player is always evolving and improving is not a linear thing and I’m sure Jess has also changed in these months. So it’s going to be great.”

Rapping a series of crackling returns, Eala broke the former No. 1 Osaka for a 2-1 lead.

Osaka broke right back when the left-hander slapped a forehand off the tape that flew wide.

In clash of flat and flashy shot-makers the first-strike was critical. Eala again hammered some deep returns, gaining triple break point in the ninth game.

Though Osaka fought off all three break points, Eala was not fazed. Firing a flat forehand return down the line helped Eala break again for a 5-4 lead.

Clad in Kermit the Frog colored Nike outfit, Eala took the green light crunching a backhand strike down the line for triple set point.

Sliding a serve winner out wide, Eala sealed a one-set lead after 39 minutes reeling off the final six points of the set.

Throughout that first set, Eala used her legs effectively bending low to absorb the pace of the flat drives. Eala won nine of 10 second-serve points in the first set.

A frustrated Osaka double faulted away the break to start the second set.

World No. 28 Eala continued exploring the corners stamping her second straight love hold for a 2-0 second-set lead.

Teetering on the edge of another break, Osaka showed stubborn resolve. 

The four-time Grand Slam champion saved all four break points she faced then pumped an ace ending a tough nine-minute hold for 2-3.

Casting concerned glances at coach Tomasz Wiktorowski between points, Osaka was running out of answers. Eala slammed a head-turning forehand return winner down the line for three more break points.

When Osaka jammed a backhand into net, Eala earned her fourth break for 6-4, 5-2.

Eala closed in 76 minutes to raise her 2026 record to 27-17.