Eala powers past Pegula for first WTA title in Washington

WASHINGTON: Alexandra Eala capped her giant-killing run at the Washington Open with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over top-seeded Jessica Pegula on Monday to become the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA title.
Eala, ranked 28th, overpowered Pegula over the final two sets as play resumed in the final suspended after lengthy weather delays on Sunday.
The 21-year-old left-hander produced a rock-solid service display and an impressive array of winners to deny third-ranked Pegula a 12th career title and a third this year.
She won the last nine games of the contest, surrendering just eight points in the third set.
“Just pure happiness,” Eala said of her first title, which comes after she agonizingly failed to convert four championship points in her only prior final at Eastbourne last year.
“Oh my gosh, winning a 500, it’s insane. It’s an incredible milestone for me,” she added.
“At the beginning of the week, there is no way I would have thought that I would be holding this trophy.

Even at the beginning of the year,” Eala said. “These things kind of creep up on you and I hold these moments really close to me.”
‘Very steep hill’
Eala is projected to rise to a career-high 20th in the world after a storming run that included victories over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, second-seeded Elina Svitolina, third-seeded former world number one Naomi Osaka and defending champion Leylah Fernandez.
“It was a very steep hill,” she said.

“I knew that the competition was super-strong and my draw was quite tough. So I’m really, really proud.