Mubadala DC Open, Washington, USA - WTA 500

[britbox]

Results of QF matches
Friday 31st July,

Pegula (1) d Kalinskaya (5) 63 75
Osaka (3) d Cocciaretto 46 64 63
Shnaider (4) d Samsonova 63 64
Eala d Svitilona (2) 63 64

QF Highlights

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Osaka's problem she is playing a lefty in Eala, making errors trying to hit the ball cross court to Eala's bhand,
Too many ufe in the 1st set from Osaka, Eala winning 64
Also Eala has been able to protect her 2nd serve, better than Osaka has soo far in this match
Goodness me Osaka serve is a mess, one of Eala main strengths is her return of serve and her fhand has been 'on song' in this match
Eala breaks Osaka's serve again and will serve for the match 5-2, BTW Osaka has 34 UFE in 2 sets of tennis to 17 winners, UGH!

Well done Alex d Osaka 64 62 and you will play Jess Pegula in the final tomorrow
Note:.
Eala new career high ranking of #24 making the final, if she wins a ranking of #20

Pegula d Shnaider 75 64 in the 1st SF earlier

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

There has been a revised playing schedule for Sunday Womens Final, due to rain being in the forecast and the area

On Stadium Arena at 12pm local time

Pegula (1) vs Eala, the only meeting between both players was in Miami in 2025 which Pegula won.

 

[britbox]

Osaka's problem she is playing a lefty in Eala, making errors trying to hit the ball cross court to Eala's bhand,
Too many ufe in the 1st set from Osaka, Eala winning 64
Also Eala has been able to protect her 2nd serve, better than Osaka has soo far in this match
Goodness me Osaka serve is a mess, one of Eala main strengths is her return of serve and her fhand has been 'on song' in this match
Eala breaks Osaka's serve again and will serve for the match 5-2, BTW Osaka has 34 UFE in 2 sets of tennis to 17 winners, UGH!

Well done Alex d Osaka 64 62 and you will play Jess Pegula in the final tomorrow
Note:.
Eala new career high ranking of #24 making the final, if she wins a ranking of #20

Pegula d Shnaider 75 64 in the 1st SF earlier

Video Highlights





Big win for Alex, excellent performance.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Video Highlights





Big win for Alex, excellent performance.

Eala was able to absorb the big hitting shots from Osaka, though Osaka was her own worst enemy, her UFE count let to her demise and also her 2nd serve was poor
If Eala is able to work on her 1st serve, which I believe she can, she can win tournaments, Ash Barty wasnt a tall player ( 5ft 5in) and she improved her first serve, one of the reasons why she won Wimbledon, let see how Alex goes in her first WTA500 tournament against Pegula

 

[the AntiPusher]

Eala was able to absorb the big hitting shots from Osaka, though Osaka was her own worst enemy, her UFE count let to her demise and also her 2nd serve was poor
If Eala is able to work on her 1st serve, which I believe she can, she can win tournaments, Ash Barty wasnt a tall player ( 5ft 5in) and she improved her first serve, one of the reasons why she won Wimbledon, let see how Alex goes in her first WTA500 tournament against Pegula

Eala crushed Osaka's poor serves today. She really punished her 2nd serves today and bossed Naomi from the baseline with her fh.. Eala is turning the corner. Good for her and her fans.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I still think Saba is the favorite in the hardcourt season.. I think she will regroup by Cincy time and tear through the draw at the USO . I think that her biggest problem is staying out of her own way.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Eala crushed Osaka's poor serves today. She really punished her 2nd serves today and bossed Naomi from the baseline with her fh.. Eala is turning the corner. Good for her and her fans.

AP
Eala has always had a good return game and she needs a good first serve for easy points, yes she defended her 2nd serve today well and punished Osaka 2nd serves and her fhand was on 'song' today in her match

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I still think Saba is the favorite in the hardcourt season.. I think she will regroup by Cincy time and tear through the draw at the USO . I think that her biggest problem is staying out of her own way.

AP

Agree, if Saba can get out of her own way and focus, she has the game, she really needs to defend her USO title this year
Another disappointment for me is Rybakina technically to me she has 'the best serve' in the women's game, her fhand has gone missing big time since Stuttgart this year, she had a chance if she won Wimbledon to be the No 1 player, sad to say she was in poor form, after watching her live this year at the AO, winning the title I really thought she could go on with it this year, not the case.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It is raining in Washington the womens final was moved up to 12pm local time, hopefully the final can get underway around 1pm

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Finally stopped raining in Washington
Ladies Final between Pegula v Eala has just started
Jess was serving at 3-4, 15-40, but she dialed in and won the 12 of the final 14 points to win the 1st set 64
Rain again, match suspended early in the 2nd set
Weather update play not resuming before 5pm local time
Lightening in the area and no play before 6pm local time

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Good God I have been to the gym done a hour of weights and the 2nd set of the Ladies final is still suspended
Recent update is the court is dry though there is more rain in the area
Pegula won the 1st set 64

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Play has been cancelled

The Womens finals will recommenced tomorrow Monday 3rd August at 12pm
Pegula leading 1st set 64 over Eala

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Both ladies on court doing their warm up
Yes it is a sunny day
Jess won the 1st set 64
On serve early in the 2nd set Eala 2-1 before the rain set in and the match was finally suspended.
4 games all, Eala has had chances in Jess service games, but Jess has been 'rock solid' when it counts in the 'big points, Eala has come out very aggressive, just has to watch her 2nd serve, which at times as been poor., her first serve has been rock solid so far,
Eala with a BP and Jess fhand long and Eala wins the 2nd set 64
Going 3 sets
Eala starts the 3rd set with aggression and has the momentum, breaks Jess and is seeing the ball, moving the ball nicely around the court, Jess too many UFE at the moment and looks frustrated.
Eala consolidates her break and leads 3-0 in the 3rd set
A double break for Eala and Jess has unraveled in the 3rd set totally lost her rhythm and has been outplayed
Eala serving at 4-0
Eala 5-0 and is just closing in on her first WTA title
Eala not backing off and has Jess in defense straight away
2 CH points for Eala and the crowd has been behind Eala,
Yes she has done it!
Eala wins her first WTA500 title and so well deserved, a final that was played over 2 days.
Eala d Pegula 46 64 60

 

[Hoergren]

Remember her name Alexandra Eala a new star on the WTA tour who just derailed another top player Jessica Pegula 46 64 60 - congrats

The final picture

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Remember her name Alexandra Eala a new star on the WTA tour who just derailed another top player Jessica Pegula 46 64 60 - congrats
View attachment 11010

A very deserved first WTA title for Eala !

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Remember her name Alexandra Eala a new star on the WTA tour who just derailed another top player Jessica Pegula 46 64 60 - congrats
View attachment 11010

Buddy, you're about 3.5 years late on this. I first said that in March 2023.

Eala is going to compete for big titles with the likes of Coco Gauff, Noskova, Mboko, Andreeva, and Jovic. That 2004-07 group was already really strong; Eala's emergence adds to it.

 

[Hoergren]

Buddy, you're about 3.5 years late on this. I first said that in March 2023.

Eala is going to compete for big titles with the likes of Coco Gauff, Noskova, Mboko, Andreeva, and Jovic. That 2004-07 group was already really strong; Eala's emergence adds to it.

Well as we say in Denmark - better late than never.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW,

Eala will be in the world #20 when the new rankings come out
A top 20 player for the first time
Beyond deserved with how well she's playing

 

[the AntiPusher]

Both ladies on court doing their warm up
Yes it is a sunny day
Jess won the 1st set 64
On serve early in the 2nd set Eala 2-1 before the rain set in and the match was finally suspended.
4 games all, Eala has had chances in Jess service games, but Jess has been 'rock solid' when it counts in the 'big points, Eala has come out very aggressive, just has to watch her 2nd serve, which at times as been poor., her first serve has been rock solid so far,
Eala with a BP and Jess fhand long and Eala wins the 2nd set 64
Going 3 sets
Eala starts the 3rd set with aggression and has the momentum, breaks Jess and is seeing the ball, moving the ball nicely around the court, Jess too many UFE at the moment and looks frustrated.
Eala consolidates her break and leads 3-0 in the 3rd set
A double break for Eala and Jess has unraveled in the 3rd set totally lost her rhythm and has been outplayed
Eala serving at 4-0
Eala 5-0 and is just closing in on her first WTA title
Eala not backing off and has Jess in defense straight away
2 CH points for Eala and the crowd has been behind Eala,
Yes she has done it!
Eala wins her first WTA500 title and so well deserved, a final that was played over 2 days.
Eala d Pegula 46 64 60

I got to say it but maybe it was Jess's time of the month today?. I did not see the match but she definitely had to be under the weather