Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala has achieved a new career milestone, moving up to a personal-best world No. 45 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. The 20-year-old improved four spots from her previous No. 49 ranking, following a strong showing in the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open.
Eala’s steady ascent reflects her consistent performances on the professional circuit. Her results from early-season tournaments, including the Philippine Women’s Open where she reached the quarterfinals, helped boost her points and move her into the WTA Top 50; a first for any Filipino player.
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Next Challenge: Abu Dhabi Open
Fresh from the rankings update, Eala advanced to the Round of 16 at the WTA500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open after a 6-4, 6-3 win over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez in the Round of 32. She will next face 31-year-old Aliaksandra Sasnovich, ranked 109th, in her bid to make a deeper run in the tournament.
With this ranking leap, Eala now leads Southeast Asia in the WTA standings, just ahead of Indonesia’s Janice Tjen at No. 47. Her continued progress signals her growing competitiveness on the world stage and sets the stage for deeper runs in higher-tier tournaments.
This achievement not only marks a personal milestone for Eala but also shines a spotlight on Filipino talent in international tennis, inspiring young athletes in the Philippines and raising the country’s presence in global sports.
