Eala Dethrones Defending Champion Fernandez for Washington, DC QF – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Picture credit score: Jeff Dean/Wick Pictures for Mubadala DC Open

Deficits don’t deter Alexandra Eala.

Taking part in from behind solely propels the Filipina phenom into overdrive.

Going through a 1-5 second-set deficit, Eala charged by means of 5 video games in a row dethroning defending champion Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 7-6(1) to achieve the Mubadala DC Open quarterfinals in her Washington, DC debut.

Eala, who deposed defending Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek at SW19 earlier this month, raised her 2026 file to 25-17 as she chases her first title earlier than a wildly supportive corps of Filipino followers.

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“It means loads. I believe each win at this degree could be very significant for me, as a result of finish of the day, I’m enjoying the highest of the highest,” Eala mentioned after scoring her first Tour-level win over a fellow lefty. “That’s why I come into each match with all of the intention that I might presumably have.

“I come out of every match, particularly if I win, you recognize, feeling actually completed, yeah, as a result of I believe at this degree, all people is combating, all people is sweet. So all these wins imply loads for me.”

In a conflict of lefty shotmakers, Eala performed a close to flawless tiebreaker to snap Fernandez’s six-match Washington, DC profitable streak.

It’s a pricey loss for the Canadian, who will drop out of the High 75 when the brand new WTA rankings are launched.

The Twenty eighth-ranked Eala reached the Berlin semifinals final month shedding to eventual-champion and Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova. Eala will play both second-seeded Elina Svitolina or qualifier Polina Kudermetova for a semifinal spot.

The Eala specific raced by means of 9 of the final 10 video games roaring previous Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 yesterday.

At present, Eala got here out hanging crisp photographs and jumped throughout a sloppy defending champion.

Fernandez double-faulted deep to reward the opening service break and 2-0 result in Eala, who instantly backed up the break for 3-0 after solely 9 minutes of play.

All through the set, Eala whipped depraved crosscourt forehands, whereas Fernandez struggled to tame her drives.

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Ceaselessly, Fernandez was over-hitting her forehand and generally slapping flat backhands into the web. When Fernandez netted a forehand, her tenth forehand error of the opening set, Eala snatched a one-set lead after 29 minutes.

The 2021 US Open finalist Fernandez is a fighter and she or he confirmed it storming again with a fierce forehand strike to interrupt for a 2-1 second-set lead. Fernandez was fired up stretching her result in 5-1 and seemed poise to pressure a 3rd set.

Eala was in no temper for prolonged engagements.

When Fernandez served for the second set at 5-2 and once more at 5-4, Eala broke and finally took a 6-5 lead.

“I believe the mindset would in all probability should be or what it was was form of I’m prepared for something,” Eala mentioned. “, I’m able to make this set longer. That’s clearly the primary purpose is to attempt to go as far in that set as I presumably might.

“But when I wasn’t in a position to try this, I might be prepared for a 3rd, and on the finish, simply take it level by level.”

Within the second-set tiebreaker, Fernandez tightened up a bit botching a routine volley lengthy then flying a forehand lengthy to fall behind 0-3.

Netting one other backhand, Fernandez leaned on her Babolat stick as if it have been a cane and yelled at herself falling behind 1-5.

The Eala forehand is hard to learn and a flexible shot. Eala swept a wonderful short-angled forehand winner crosscourt that froze Fernandez for a fistful of match factors at 6-1.

Shifting the champion side-to-side, Eala flashed a forehand winner down the road closing in a single hour, 53 minutes.

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