The Mubadala Open in Washington could see two rising stars of the sport clinch the biggest titles of their careers so far on Sunday.

21-year-old Alexandra Eala has reached her first WTA 500 final after beating four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2. The Filipino won 74% of her service points and broke Osaka four times en route to claiming her seventh win over a top 20 player this season.

“I think I was able to be aggressive and play on my terms a lot of the time. The intensity on my legs was also pretty good. And just the mental fortitude,” Eala said afterwards.

“I felt pretty strong out there.”

Eala, who is making her debut in Washington, is rapidly rising on the Tour. She is currently ranked 28th in the world and could break into the top 20 before the US Open starts. During the grass swing, she became the first player from her country in the Open Era to reach a WTA 250 final in Eastbourne and the fourth round at Wimbledon. On hardcourt, she has won 16 out of 23 Tour-level matches played so far in 2026.

“It’s tough to let it sink in. I think my first priority right now is recovery,” she said of reaching the final.

“I still have one more match and then maybe I’ll have time to enjoy a little bit more.”

In the final, Eala faces the far more experienced Jessica Pegula, who won the tournament seven years ago. Top seed Pegula defeated Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-4, in her semi-final match. The American is 22-4 on hardcourts this season and seven of her 11 Tour titles have been won on this surface.

“Alex, I’m a big fan of hers,” Pegula said of Eala during an interview on The Tennis Channel.

“I think she’s shown so much maturity. She’s gotten so much better. She competes so well. She’s handled all of this kind of fame that’s come with her, which has been really cool to see.

“She’s the future of the Tour, for sure.”

Jodar continues surge

In the men’s tournament, Rafael Jodar has a shot at claiming his first ATP 500 trophy after beating Alejandro Tabilo 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4 in a roller-coaster encounter. The 19-year-old only faced one break point throughout the two-and-a-half-hour encounter, which he saved.

As a result of his run, Jaodar will make his top 20 debut on Monday and is currently projected to rise to 15th place. His rapid rise was triggered by a standout clay swing in which he won his first ATP title in Morocco before reaching the quarter-finals of two Masters 1000 events, as well as the French Open. In Washington, he has already beaten seeded players Arthur Fils and Lorenzo Musetti.

“It is great,” Jodar said after beating Tabilo. “I am doing good things with my team and especially my dad. He’s always there with me, so I really appreciate it… It means a lot to be in the final. But I have to keep pushing because there is another tough match.”

The teenager will take on Taylor Fritz for the title, who beat Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The American will be playing in his 23rd Tour-level final.

“I played Jodar earlier in the year in Delray,” said Fritz. “I thought he played well, but I think he’s grown a lot as a player since then.”