Eala blasts Osaka, books Mubadala DC Open finals ticket vs Pegula

MANILA, Philippines — A first-ever WTA 500 title is within reach for Alex Eala. 

The Filipina tennis star is headed to her first WTA 500 finals berth after blasting Naomi Osaka in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, in the Mubadala DC Open semifinal early Sunday morning (Manila time.)

This is literally uncharted territory for Eala, who only previously reached the semifinal of a WTA 500 tournament. This is also her first final on the hard court.

And she did so in dominant fashion against the former World No. 1 tennister. 

“Super happy. I think I played really well and such a meaningful match against a great player,” Eala said after the match. 

Eala and Osaka traded games in the first set, and the Japanese tennister held a slim 4-3 lead. 

But the Filipina took the set by its horns, winning the next three games to take the first frame, 6-4.

Come the second set, Eala kept on rolling as she won the first two games. 

Osaka, then, tried to storm back, but could not get over the hump.

Trailing 0-2, the World No. 13 player won two of the next three games as she breathed on the neck of Eala. 

But the World No. 28 tennister slammed the door shut on Osaka’s comeback attempts. 

The two both had 17 winners, and Osaka actually had five aces against none for Eala. 

But Osaka committed 34 unforced errors to Eala's 18.

The Filipina will now be facing Jessica Pegula in the final. 

Pegula defeated Diana Shnaider also in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, earlier in the day. 

It was Pegula who ended the magical run of Eala in the Miami Open last year, and suffice it to say, she wants to get her revenge against the American this time around, with the title up for grabs.