ALEX M. Eala reached a new career-best ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), barging inside the Top 350 for the first time following a stellar campaign in Spain over the weekend.
Ms. Eala fell short in winning her third professional title with a runner-up finish behind home bet Marina Bassols Ribera in the W60 Madrid, but it was more than enough to push her to No. 340 in the latest WTA list this week.
The 17-year-old Filipina ace bested her previous career-high at No. 394 back in May after she ruled the W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand for her second championship in her budding pro career.
Ms. Eala’s solid performance in Madrid that catapulted her WTA rise included wins over an array of Top-300 players led by then WTA No. 182 and now No. 153 Jaimee Fourlis of Australia.
A scholar of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, Ms. Eala has now jumped 186 spots after starting the year at No. 526.
Ms. Eala even came all the way from No. 1180 back in 2020 when she started participating in the women’s pro circuit.
In the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings, Ms. Eala is steady at No. 18 highlighted by two juniors doubles Grand Slams despite little to no participation so far this year in a bid to focus more in the women’s play.
Prior to her fine Madrid showing, Ms. Eala won three bronze medals in her 31st Southeast Asian Games debut in Hanoi, Vietnam last month. — John Bryan Ulanday