The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Long before Alex Eala lifted her first WTA trophy in Washington, ArenaPlus users had already picked her as their champion.
Eala received overwhelming support in ArenaPlus’ tournament winner market, with 96.88 percent of picks backing her to win the Mubadala DC Open, far ahead of Diana Shnaider at 1.48 percent, Jessica Pegula at 1.15 percent, Naomi Osaka at 0.33 percent and Elisabetta Cocciaretto at 0.16 percent.
That confidence was rewarded early Tuesday, August 4 (Manila time), when Eala completed a comeback against top seed Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, to capture her first WTA Tour singles title.
The victory made her the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour singles title and lifted her to a career-high World No. 20.
On paper, however, Eala entered the final as the underdog. Pegula arrived in Washington as World No. 3 and the top seed of the WTA 500 event, while Eala was ranked No. 28. The difference was reflected in the pre-live odds at ArenaPlus, with Pegula listed at 1.24 and Eala at 3.7.
But the match odds at ArenaPlus, the No. 1 PAGCOR-licensed online sportsbook in the Philippines, did little to change the support behind the Filipina as 96 percent predicted her to defeat Pegula.
The American took the opening set, 6-4, before Eala moved ahead, 2-1, in the second. Rain later suspended the match, but 50.57 percent of bets placed during the delay still backed the Filipina.
Support was also clear in the correct-score market, where 80.69 percent picked Eala to win in three sets. Before the match began, 95 percent also backed her to win the opening set, compared with 5 percent for Pegula.
When play resumed, Pegula moved ahead, 4-3, in the second set and came within two games of the title. Eala did not allow her another game, taking the final nine to complete the second-set turnaround before blanking Pegula in the decider.
The triumph was Eala’s ninth career win against a Top 10 opponent and capped a run that included victories over Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, defending champion Leylah Fernandez, 20-time WTA Tour champion Elina Svitolina and four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka.
“The odds showed how difficult the challenge was, while the support from ArenaPlus users reflected the confidence Filipinos have in Alex,” said Ethan William, Head of ArenaPlus. “Wherever she competes, she carries the pride of the country with her, and this victory gave Filipinos another reason to stand behind her.”
The odds made Eala the underdog in Washington. But to ArenaPlus users who overwhelmingly picked her to win it all, she was always the champion.