Alex Eala says she already felt like a winner long before final point

Alex Eala did not have to wait until Jessica Pegula’s last shot sailed wide to feel like a winner in the Mubadala DC Open.

By the time the rain-delayed final resumed on Monday, the 21-year-old Filipino had already sensed victory—not from the scoreboard, but in the overwhelming support that followed her throughout the tournament.

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The William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center was packed despite the rare Monday championship match, with fans waving Philippine flags, chanting Eala’s name and roaring with approval at her every winner. From outside the venue, things weren’t that different.

READ: Alex Eala: Filipino dreamer to WTA winner

“Before the final yesterday, I got so many sweet messages from my family and my friends. I thought to myself, I feel so much love,” Eala said after rallying past Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, for her first WTA Tour title.

“Standing here in the middle of all this love, my first chance at a title, knowing it won’t be my last, already having achieved this feat and this milestone for my career, I knew that whatever would’ve happened after this match, it would’ve already been a win for me.”

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Pegula said she is impressed by how Eala manages to keep herself grounded amid her skyrocketing popularity.

“I just think it’s so refreshing and nice to see how well she’s handled all of the kind of fandom and stardom that’s come with her being from the Philippines and how they’ve really embraced her,” Pegula said. “And it’s crazy how she deals with it every single week, which just shows her maturity as a player and a person.”

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The final had been suspended last Sunday because of rain, with Pegula leading by a set. When play resumed under sunny skies, Eala surged back, winning 12 of the final 16 games to complete the biggest victory of her career.

The atmosphere made the moment even more remarkable—the crowd refused to thin out despite the long pause.

“Monday finals are very rare in tennis. No one can remember the last time it happened here,” tournament director Mark Ein said. “Talking to people who spend their life on the tennis tour, they said this might be the greatest crowd for a Monday final anyone’s ever seen.”

Pegula, who had called Eala “the future of the tour” before the championship match, was equally struck by the turnout.

“I can definitely confirm this is probably the best Monday final crowd I’ve seen,” the world No. 3 said. “To all the Filipino fans that came out, you guys are helping grow tennis around the world.”

Eala made sure her supporters were among the first people she thanked after lifting the trophy.

“To all my supporters, thank you, guys—especially the Filipino community here in DC and back home, wherever you are in the world. I really feel all the love,” she said.

“I really look forward to seeing you guys again.”

Eala’s faithful followers will get the chance to see her next at the Canadian Open, which has set an attendance record with the night schedule of the third round already sold out. Tournament experts have noted that only Serena Williams has done that in the last 20 years.

It doesn’t take much to figure out who will be playing this time around. INQ