Alex Eala to match Serena Williams in achieving incredible feat after winning Washington Open title

Rising tennis star Alex Eala will reportedly be part of tennis history rarely seen this century later this week after winning her maiden WTA 500 title.

Eala, 21, defeated world number three Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-0 to win the Washington Open on Monday.

The final, which began on Sunday, was suspended due to rain on Sunday with Pegula leading 6-4, 2-1.

But the number one seed only won a further three games against Eala, who became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA 500 crown.

Eala will enter the top 20 of the WTA rankings for the first time ahead of this month's US Open, which gets underway for the main draw on August 30.

She is scheduled to play her second round match at the Canadian Open, meanwhile, on Wednesday night.

Tickets for the night session have already sold out across all categories, as per the Canadian Open's official website.

According to prominent Twitter (X) account Tennis Connected, an opening Wednesday night has only been sold out in Toronto when Serena Williams has been playing across the last 20 years.

Home favourite Leylah Fernandez - who also has Filipino roots - will doubtless have been a contributing factor, with the Canadian number two playing her second round match on Wednesday evening.

Canadian number one Victoria Mboko was scheduled to compete before she suffered a knee injury while competing in doubles alongside Serena Williams back in June.

The 19-year-old is also out of the US Open as she recovers.

Eala reacts to Washington Open win

Speaking after winning her first WTA 500 title in Washington, Eala said: "I don't know where to start! First and foremost, congratulations to Jessie [Pegula] for an amazing week, and you've had an amazing session. It's always a pleasure to share the court with you - I learn so much. I'm looking forward to hopefully many more finals with you.

"There's a long list of people I want to thank. Top of that list is my family - my mum, my dad, my brother. My team ... thank you guys. They're my inner circle. They're the ones who are putting in the work every day with me, who make me feel like I'm not enduring alone or putting in the hard work alone, because I know they're right there with me. So thank you guys.

"I want to thank the medical staff here, the WTA medical staff and the tournament medical staff, for helping me throughout the week. I want to thank the tournament and the sponsors for such an accommodating week, an amazing, amazing tournament. Moving the final to Monday was no easy feat, but super memorable. So congratulations on a great tournament."

Pegula said: "I want to congratulate Alex on an amazing week, an amazing tournament. You're an amazing player, and just to see how far you've come over the last couple of years when we've first played, to see the amazing fans that follow you every single place you go... it's not fun to play against, but I do appreciate the really fun atmosphere, I do. I think it's amazing. Congrats and all the best to you and your coach."