The Mubadala DC Open final in Washington DC took an unexpected turn on Sunday when rain forced organizers to suspend play, pushing the conclusion of the WTA 500 championship match to Monday. At the time of the stoppage, top American Jessica Pegula held a 6-4, 1-2 lead over Alex Eala of the Philippines, leaving the outcome tantalizingly unresolved.
Pegula, 32 and ranked third in the world, had already beaten Eala before their DC showdown, edging past her 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 in the semi-finals of the 2025 Miami Open. But the American made clear that the young Filipina, ranked 28th, presents a genuinely complicated puzzle, particularly when it comes to her serve.
Speaking after her semi-final victory over Diana Shnaider in Washington, Pegula acknowledged that Eala's delivery has improved since their Miami encounter. She pointed to Eala's left-handedness as a key factor, noting that the ball movement is inherently unusual for opponents who rarely face lefty servers. The serve also stays remarkably low through the bounce, Pegula explained, which removes any opportunity to attack it aggressively. She compared the awkward sensation to returning serves from Adrian Mannarino, suggesting even modest deliveries from a lefty can feel disproportionately effective.
"Any time you have to hit up on the ball," Pegula noted, "it can be really tricky." She also called the crowd support Eala attracts "crazy," a reflection of the enormous enthusiasm the Filipino community brings to her matches wherever she competes.
With a WTA 500 title on the line and genuine momentum behind both players, TennisDraw users who backed Pegula to lift the trophy will be watching Monday's resumption very closely.
