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The Mubadala DC Open women’s championship match between Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala and top-seeded American Jessica Pegula was suspended due to heavy rain on Monday Philippine time.
The title game was initially delayed by nearly three hours because of inclement weather. Pegula claimed the opening set, 6-4 and was trailing 1-2 in the second when rain forced officials to halt play.
After waiting for more than five hours for conditions to improve, tournament organizers officially postponed the remainder of the match to 12 midnight on Tuesday.
Eala, the world no.28, is chasing the first WTA singles title in just her second Tour-level final. She finished runner-up at the Eastbourne Open in Great Britain last year after falling to Australia’s Maya Joint.
The 21-year-old Filipina booked her place in the final with an impressive run that included victories over former world no.1 Naomi Osaka of Japan, second-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, and defending champion Leylah Fernandez of Canada.
Regardless of the outcome, Eala is projected to rise to the WTA Top 25. She is also guaranteed $155,000 or approximately ₱9.5 million while a victory would increase her earnings to $252,000 or around ₱15.4 million.
On the other hand, world no.3 Pegula is seeking her 12th WTA singles title and third championship of the season after winning in Dubai and Charleston. The American is also aiming to repeat her victory over Eala after defeating the Filipina in their first meeting at the Miami Open semifinals last year.
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