Eala (in green) serving for the match point in the third set | Screenshot via Facebook
WASHINGTON, DC — Filipino tennis star Alex Eala made a strong debut at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, rallying past Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in a gritty three‑set first‑round battle as she continues her North American hard‑court swing leading into the 2026 US Open. Eala arrived in Washington this week for the WTA 500 event, which runs 27 July to 2 August, marking her first appearance in the US capital and the first of three tune‑up tournaments before Flushing Meadows.
Fresh off her historic Wimbledon breakthrough—where she became the first Filipino in the Open Era to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam, defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek- Eala entered Washington ranked World No. 29, just below her career‑high No. 28 achieved earlier in July.
Her opening assignment was formidable: Zheng Qinwen, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist, once ranked in the world’s top five but now at World No. 123 after an injury‑hit stretch. The two had never met on tour, though Zheng previously edged Eala in the 2023 Asian Games semifinals.
A Three‑Set Comeback
In their Washington clash on 28 July, Eala dropped the first set 4–6 after Zheng recovered from a slow start and unleashed her trademark power game. But the Filipina steadied herself in the second set, trading games before surging ahead to take it 6–4, breaking Zheng’s serve at a critical moment.
With momentum behind her, Eala dominated the deciding set 6–1, capitalizing on Zheng’s 46 unforced errors while maintaining consistency from the baseline. Despite Zheng firing 14 aces and 35 winners, Eala’s discipline and court coverage proved decisive.
After the match, Eala praised the Washington crowd:
“I think the community here in DC is amazing… I’m really happy with my win today.”
She added that her coach reminded her to “keep going because if I’m there every ball, I’ll have my chances.”
Next Up: Leylah Fernandez
With the victory, Eala advances to face defending DC Open champion Leylah Fernandez, currently World No. 25, in the second round. Fernandez previously defeated Eala at the Stuttgart Open in April, adding intrigue to their rematch.
Eala acknowledged the challenge ahead:
“I think it’s going to be a very tough match for me. Leylah is such an amazing player and an amazing person… My priority is to recover and arrive in the best shape possible.”
A Hero’s Welcome Back Home
Following her Wimbledon run, Eala received praise from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who welcomed her as a “sports hero.” Marcos publicly lauded her historic achievement and the pride she brought to the Philippines and mentioned her name during his State of the Nation Address (SONA). Eala, in turn, expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying she was honored and motivated to continue representing the country at the highest level.
US Open Preparation
The DC Open marks the start of Eala’s US Open buildup, followed by stops in Toronto and Cincinnati before the Grand Slam begins on 30 August.
With her confidence soaring and ranking at World No. 29, Eala’s Washington campaign signals a player hitting her stride at precisely the right moment.
