Alexandra Eala has been chosen as the standout player of the WTA hard-court season after a breakthrough run in Washington and a rise into the world’s Top 20. The 21-year-old Filipina collected 78 percent of the fan vote, well clear of the rest of the field, following her first WTA Tour title and a series of high-profile wins.
Key takeaways
- Eala received 78 percent of the vote to be named the hard-court swing’s leading performer.
- Her Washington title was her first on the WTA Tour and lifted her into the Top 20 for the first time.
- She defeated Zheng Qinwen, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula during her title run.
- Eala is currently ranked No. 18 in the PIF WTA Rankings.
- Elena Rybakina finished second in the vote with 16 percent after winning the US Open and reaching world No. 1.
A demanding Washington draw ends with Pegula rout
Eala’s run to the trophy in Washington required her to navigate one of the most formidable draws of the North American hard-court stretch. She opened by beating Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, then removed defending champion Leylah Fernandez.
Her momentum continued against elite opposition. Eala upset Top 10 player Elina Svitolina and four-time major winner Naomi Osaka to book her place in the final against top seed and former Washington champion Jessica Pegula.
Pegula took the opening set, but Eala turned the match around and closed the championship contest with a 6-0 deciding set. The title secured her first WTA Tour crown and delivered a major rankings reward, sending her into the Top 20 for the first time.
Her hard-court swing also included a memorable US Open match against Iva Jovic in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Eala lost the three-set contest after three hours, but the finish became one of the season’s lasting images: Jovic dropped to the court in relief and fatigue after the final point, while Eala crossed over to embrace her opponent at the net.
Rybakina’s major triumph highlights the wider swing
Rybakina was second in the fan voting on 16 percent after a hard-court campaign that changed the shape of the season. Ten days after suffering a left-ankle injury in Cincinnati, her prospects at the US Open appeared uncertain. She nevertheless arrived in New York and won her first US Open title, the third Grand Slam championship of her career.
That New York triumph also carried historic ranking consequences. Rybakina overtook Aryna Sabalenka to become world No. 1 for the first time and was the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals. Earlier in the swing, she had reached the Toronto final.
Other players to receive votes included Toronto champion Iga Swiatek, Cincinnati winner Coco Gauff, and US Open doubles champions Taylor Townsend and Swiatek. The remaining candidates were US Open runner-up Sabalenka, Guadalajara champion Jovic and Monterrey winner Diane Parry.
The final Asian swing of the season has begun in Singapore and Seoul and will continue through November 8. The WTA Finals at Indian Wells will start on November 8 and conclude on November 15.
