Jessica Pegula to face Alexandra Eala in Washington Open final after semifinal wins
Top seed Jessica Pegula rallied from 5-2 down to beat Diana Shnaider, while Alexandra Eala ousted Naomi Osaka to reach Sunday's WTA 500 title match.
Pegula rallies past Shnaider
Top seed Jessica Pegula overcame a 5-2 deficit in the opening set to beat Russia's Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-4 in 87 minutes. The world number three, who won her first WTA title in Washington in 2019, lost five of the first seven games before reeling off five straight games to steal the set. She broke for a 3-2 lead in the second and extended to 5-2, then served out the match with a forehand winner after Shnaider had broken back once. The victory was Pegula's tour-leading 38th match win of the season.
I just capitalised on a couple of areas. I think I started just trying to find the rhythm on the return. I didn't think I was that far off... So, just trying to pick up my energy and again, try and be a little bit more aggressive.
Eala dispatches Osaka
Alexandra Eala, the 21-year-old left-hander from the Philippines, delivered a composed 6-4, 6-2 win over four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in 76 minutes. Eala broke in the ninth game of the first set after the pair had been level at 4-4, then held to love. She carried that momentum into the second, breaking immediately and again for a 4-2 lead before closing out the match. The world number 28, who reached the Wimbledon fourth round last month, had earlier beaten second seed Elina Svitolina for her sixth top-10 victory of the year.
I think I played really well and, of course, it's such a meaningful match against a great player. So really happy to share the court with Naomi.
- Pegula falls behind 5-2 in first set against Shnaider
- Pegula wins five straight games to take the set 7-5
- Pegula breaks Shnaider to lead 3-2 in second set
- Pegula wins 7-5, 6-4 in 87 minutes
- Eala breaks Osaka to lead 5-4 in first set
- Eala holds to love to win first set 6-4
- Eala breaks Osaka in opening game of second set
- Eala wins 6-4, 6-2 in 76 minutes
Final preview
Sunday's final will be the second tour-level meeting between Pegula and Eala. Pegula won their only previous encounter 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 in the 2025 Miami Open semifinals. Pegula is chasing her 12th career title and third of 2026 after triumphs in Dubai and Charleston. Eala is seeking her first WTA trophy, having lost her only previous final at Eastbourne in 2025.
It's going to be a battle. Alex, I'm a big fan of her. She's the future of the tour and she's already here.
I'm in the final for a reason. I just have to trust myself. She (Pegula) is such an amazing player. I think it's going to be a really good match.
Men's semifinals
In the concurrent ATP 500 event, Taylor Fritz faces Brandon Nakashima in an all-American semifinal, while Chile's Alejandro Tabilo meets Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar. Fritz is seeking his 11th career title.
