Alexandra Eala Named She Got Game Player of the Week After Stunning Tennis Win
- Tandaleya Wilder
- Aug 2
- 2 min read
Alexandra Eala Stuns Naomi Osaka to Reach DC Open Final
Alexandra Eala has delivered another history-making moment for women’s tennis—and earned recognition as the She Got Game Player of the Week.
The 21-year-old Filipina tennis star defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals of the Mubadala DC Open in Washington. Eala completed the victory in one hour and 16 minutes to advance to the first WTA 500 final of her career.
The result was more than one impressive upset. It continued a remarkable tournament run in which Eala also defeated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, defending Washington champion Leylah Fernandez and former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina. Against Fernandez, Eala recovered from a 5-1 deficit in the second set before winning in a tiebreak.
A Rising Star in Women’s Tennis
Eala entered the week ranked No. 28 in the world, the highest position of her career. The left-hander from Quezon City has compiled a 30-18 singles record in 2026 and continues to establish herself as one of the most exciting young players in women’s sports.
Her rise did not begin in Washington. In 2022, Eala became the first Filipina to win a junior Grand Slam singles championship when she captured the girls’ title at the US Open. She later became the first player from the Philippines to enter the WTA Top 100.
Eala reached her first WTA Tour final on the grass courts of Eastbourne in 2025. In July 2026, she added another national milestone by becoming the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament at Wimbledon.
Alexandra Eala’s Breakthrough Continues
Eala has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca since she was 13 and has developed a game built around athleticism, composure and aggressive left-handed groundstrokes. She began playing tennis at age 4 and made her WTA qualifying debut at the Miami Open in 2021.
Her Washington performance shows that she is no longer simply a promising prospect. She is now defeating accomplished champions and advancing deep into major women’s tennis tournaments.
Eala will face American Jessica Pegula in the DC Open final. Pegula advanced by defeating Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-4 after recovering from a 5-2 opening-set deficit.
Regardless of the final result, Alexandra Eala’s victory over Naomi Osaka represents another major step in her rise and makes her a deserving She Got Game Player of the Week.
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