Alex Eala Has Just Made Tennis History at Mubadala DC Open

And just like that, Alex Eala has just made tennis history once again. After defeating Japanese tennis champion Naomi Osaka at the Mubadala DC Open, the 21-year-old tennis prodigy secured both her first-ever Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 500 Level final and hard-court final.

Poised for another indelible mark in her tennis career, Alex is one match win away from her very first WTA Tour-level title. For the finals, the Pinay pride will be facing American tennis champion Jessica Pegula. The two players have previously battled it out at the 2025 Miami semi-finals, where Jessica won.

When asked about how it felt to defeat Naomi, Alex first acknowledged how honored she was to share the court with her. "The way I approached today's match, [I] could never count her out. I had to be so locked in. I made it a point to be so locked in, which is why until now, I'm still in that mode of competition. I need time to let it sink in."

Supported by her fans from all over the world, Alex was identified as the most popular player on the court. Shifting the focus on the tournament and to the fans, "The level here in this tournament is really so high. We have the best of the best, so this tournament doesn't anything but the best fans."

In preparation for the finals, Alex jokingly said that she'll ask her coach because he knows best. "I just have to trust myself. I'm in the final for a reason. She is such an amazing player also for a reason, so I think it's gonna be a really good match," concluded Alex.

Being a Nike ambassador, Alex wore her favorite Vapor Pro 3—this time in the pink smoke, vast grey, black, and white colorway.

Nike Vapor Pro 3 Women's Hard Court Tennis Shoes, $135 (approx. P8269.43), NIKE, nike.com