‘Future of tour’ Eala beats Osaka to reach Washington final
Alexandra Eala beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to reach the final of the Washington Open, continuing a breakthrough season that has taken her from outside the world's top 50 to a career-high ranking. The 21-year-old Filipina will now face world number three Jessica Pegula for the title, having been described by her opponent as "the future of the tour". The result caps a run in which Eala has already recorded six wins over top-10 players in 2026, including knocking Iga Swiatek out of Wimbledon in July, and becoming the first Philippine singles player to reach a major's fourth round in the Open era.
Eala won 6-4 6-2 against Osaka, having earlier beaten second seed Elina Svitolina and 2025 champion Leylah Fernandez en route to the final, with a strong serving display (71% of first-serve points won) underpinning the victory. She previously lost to Pegula in a tight three-set Miami Open semi-final, but says she has since become more physically well-rounded. In the men's draw, third seed Taylor Fritz will meet Spain's Rafael Jodar, who is set to break into the world's top 20 after starting the year ranked 165th, in Sunday's final.
- Eala beats Osaka 6-4 6-2 to reach Washington Open final
- Faces world number three Jessica Pegula for the title
- Rising Filipino star hits career-high ranking after strong 2026 season
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Alexandra Eala is a 21-year-old tennis player from the Philippines who has risen sharply up the world rankings this year, having started the season outside the top 50. She has beaten several highly ranked players along the way, including Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon, and in doing so became the first Philippine singles player to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open era.
The Washington Open is a professional tennis tournament in the United States, part of the sport's regular tour calendar. Naomi Osaka, whom Eala beat to reach the final, is a former world number one and has won four Grand Slam titles. Jessica Pegula, Eala's opponent in the final, is currently ranked third in the world.
The match matters because it reflects a broader shift in women's tennis, with an established, senior player being challenged by a fast-rising newcomer from a country with little history of success at the top level of the sport.