Eala Shocks Osaka To Become First Filipino In Washington Open Final

Eala stuns Osaka to reach Washington Open final

Eala beats Osaka to reach career-biggest to book WTA final spot in Washington. Eala defeats Osaka In 76 minutes Washington Final. 

Giant killer Eala ousts Osaka, sets Washington final vs Pegula. “I played really well and I had a great mentality and I stayed locked in until the end...”

Alexandra Eala beat former world No.1 Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the Washington Open women’s final. The WTA/ATP event in Washington will now see her take on world No.3 Jessica Pegula for the title.

  

The 21-year-old Filipino left-hander put in a superb performance to defeat the 4-time Grand Slam champion from Japan. It takes her to a second WTA final after she finished runner-up at Eastbourne last year.

World No.28 Eala has made a habit of upsets in Washington. She knocked out second seed Elina Svitolina for her 6th top-10 win of 2026, after also beating defending champion Leylah Fernandez earlier in the week.

World No.13 Osaka was denied a shot at her 8th WTA title, and her first trophy since winning the 2021 Australian Open.

“I'm super proud of my performance,” Eala said.

“I played really well and I had a great mentality and I stayed locked in until the end.”

Eala went up 2-1 in the opener after Osaka hit a backhand long to give up the break. Osaka responded in the next game, breaking back when Eala dumped a forehand volley into the net.

The dream run continues for Alex Eala 💚#MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/S4Mh4Acoax

— wta (@WTA) August 1, 2026

Osaka fought off three break points in the ninth game, but then missed two forehands to hand the break back. Eala served it out to love with an ace to take the set in 38 minutes.

Osaka opened the second set with a double fault to get broken, and later netted a backhand to drop serve again, leaving Eala up 5-2.

“I hit a lot of unforced errors, so that was probably one of the main reasons (for losing),” Osaka said.

Eala, who made the fourth round at Wimbledon last month, served out the win to wrap things up in 76 minutes.

In the other semi-final, Pegula beat Russia’s Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-4. The world No.3 is chasing her 12th WTA title overall and her 3rd of 2026.