Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot throughout a ladies’s singles match towards Leylah Fernandez of Canada throughout day three of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Middle on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Pictures/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala ousted defending champion Leylah Fernandez with a powerful 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory to safe a spot within the quarterfinals of the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C.
Showcasing grit as soon as once more, Eala rallied from a 5-1 deficit within the second set earlier than overwhelming Fernandez within the tiebreak to stage their head-to-head collection at one win apiece.
PURE HEART 💚
A outstanding comeback from Alex Eala towards Fernandez in DC 😮💨#MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/jHgMacWOgf
— wta (@WTA) July 29, 2026
“I feel I undoubtedly had some powerful moments in that match, and credit score to Leylah, she put me in some actually powerful positions,” Eala, who beforehand misplaced to Fernandez within the Stuttgart Open in April, mentioned. “So, I feel I’m tremendous pleased with how I fought and the way I stayed in there.”
On the verge of taking part in one other three-setter, Eala responded by profitable 5 straight video games to take a 6-5 lead, however Fernandez held serve to power a tiebreak.
The Filipino tennis star wasted no time within the tiebreak, constructing a 3-0 benefit earlier than Fernandez bought on the board. Eala then received 4 straight factors to shut out the match in a single hour and 53 minutes.
Eala will face the winner between Polina Kudermetova and Elina Svitolina within the quarterfinals.
The world No. 28 got here out firing within the first set with a 3-0 lead, opening the match with a love maintain to set the tone. She traded holds with Fernandez earlier than sealing the set together with her second break.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot throughout a ladies’s singles match towards Leylah Fernandez of Canada throughout day three of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Middle on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Pictures/AFP
However Eala admittedly struggled within the second after Fernandez, presently ranked No. 34 with a career-high No. 13, discovered her rhythm and reeled off 5 straight video games to maneuver inside a sport of forcing a decider.
That was when Eala regained her composure—harking back to her Spherical of 32 win over Zheng Qinwen, when she rallied from a set down—and retook management of the match.
“I do know that she was taking part in a little bit higher, and perhaps my stage dropped a little bit bit. I feel these are very tough moments when you already know your stage has dropped, and also you need to do higher, however issues simply, for one cause or one other, aren’t popping out,” Eala, who beat Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, mentioned.
“I feel endurance was key there, and simply making an attempt to work it out, and have a powerful mentality when it comes to looking for options.”
Eala eyes one other semifinal look this yr in her first event of the North American swing as a part of her buildup to the US Open.
