The women’s singles championship at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington has been suspended until Monday following persistent rain and lightning near the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. The match, which faced multiple delays throughout the day, was eventually halted after 55 minutes of play.
Jessica Pegula held a 6-4, 1-2 lead over Alex Eala when officials cleared the Stadium Court. Prior to the interruption, neither player had faced a break point during the second set. Pegula had secured the opening set with a composed performance, but Eala had begun to find her rhythm, holding her first two service games to establish a 2-1 advantage before the weather forced a stoppage.
For 21-year-old Eala, the match marks only her second tour-level final as she pursues her maiden WTA singles title. Her path to the championship round included notable victories over top-tier opponents, including Zheng Qinwen, defending champion Leylah Fernandez, world No. 10 Elina Svitolina, and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka. Her recent performance has also propelled her to a career-high ranking of 24.
Her opponent, Jessica Pegula, is seeking her second title at this tournament, having previously won the Washington event seven years ago. The American currently holds a head-to-head advantage over Eala, having previously defeated her in a three-set semi-final encounter at the 2025 Miami Open.
Tournament organizers confirmed that the final will resume on Monday, following a day defined by weather-related disruptions that pushed the original noon start time back by several hours. The match remains poised at a critical juncture as both players look to regain their momentum when play restarts.
Pegula made the stronger start, taking the opening set 6-4 with a composed display.
Eala responded positively in the second set, holding her opening two service games to edge ahead 2-1 before rain and nearby lightning brought proceedings to a halt, disrupting the Filipina’s momentum.
Source: Gulf News
