leeroy
For the first time, the Philippines has a champion on the WTA, and her name is Alexandra Eala.
The 20-year-old’s history-making efforts for her country took another step on Monday, as she came from behind to finish a victory against top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the rain-delayed final of the Mubadala DC Open.
The match was suspended on Sunday night after extensive rainfall with Pegula leading 6-4, 1-2.
But from 6-4, 4-3 behind, the Filipina wrestled control away and never looked back.
She won the last nine games, including a 6-0 third set where she dropped just eight points.
Meanwhile, Kristina Liutova became the youngest active WTA champion to win a tour-level title on Sunday, rallying past fellow-first time finalist Darja Vidmanova to claim the inaugural Memphis Classic.
But that wasn’t her only milestone.
Liutova beat Vidmanova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 in just over two hours to become the second-youngest player to win a title in her tour-level debut, older than only Mirjana Lucic, who won Bol in 1997.
It was an unexpected run for Liutova, who entered the week ranked No. 229 in the PIF WTA Rankings and reached the main draw only after advancing through qualifying.
Liutova will find herself much higher in the rankings come Monday, when she is projected to rise to a career-high No. 126, surpassing her previous best by nearly 100 spots.
Beyond the jump in the rankings, which could potentially open doors to larger events and more direct entries, her run in Memphis will elevate her profile among both fellow players and fans alike.
It also delivers the biggest addition yet to her trophy case, a breakthrough title that signals she may be ready for much more in the future – SuperSport.
Online Reporter