Manila, Philippines – In a landmark achievement for Philippine tennis, Alexandra “Alex” Eala has climbed to a new career-high ranking of World No. 54 on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour. This accomplishment solidifies the 20-year-old’s status as the highest-ranked Filipina player in history and edges her closer to the coveted Top 50.
Eala’s latest ascent in the rankings, announced on October 6, 2025, is the result of her consistent performance and deep runs in recent tournaments, particularly in the Asian swing of the tour. Her journey reflects a blend of relentless drive and groundbreaking success for her nation.
The Path to a New Career High
Eala’s rise to World No. 54 was fueled by her determined play across multiple tournaments in China. Her recent results demonstrate the steady progress that has defined her 2025 season:
- Jingshan Tennis Open: Eala powered into the semifinals, where she was eventually defeated by New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in a tight three-set match.
- Suzhou Open: The Filipina tennis star showcased her resilience by battling through to the quarterfinals of this WTA 125 event. Her run included a marathon three-hour victory over Belgium’s Greet Minnen before a hard-fought loss to Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.
- Wuhan Open: Despite a first-round qualifying loss to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, Eala’s earlier results provided enough points to propel her to her new career-high ranking.
These performances contributed to a net gain of 40 ranking points, bringing her total to 1,123 points on the WTA leaderboard.
A Landmark Year for a Rising Star
The 2025 season has been a series of historic firsts for Eala, establishing her as a formidable force on the international circuit.
- Maiden WTA Final: In June, Eala became the first Filipina to reach a WTA final at the Eastbourne Open, where she held championship points in a thrilling three-set contest against Australia’s Maya Joint.
- Grand Slam Breakthrough: At the 2025 US Open, Eala made history by becoming the first Filipino to win a main-draw match at a Grand Slam in the Open Era, stunning 14th seed Clara Tauson of Denmark in a dramatic comeback victory.
- First WTA Title: Just weeks before her ranking climb, Eala captured her first WTA singles title at the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico, another first for a player from the Philippines.
National Pride and Global Ambition
Eala’s success carries the pride of an entire nation. “A lot of this pride obviously comes from being the first to do it from my country,” Eala told the Tennis Channel. “I take it with so much pride, to wear my flag. It makes me feel so special in a sea of all these Europeans, and all these Americans, and all of these powerhouse tennis countries, there’s a girl from the Philippines who made it somewhat big.”
Her journey, which began with lessons from her grandfather and led to a scholarship at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, is built on self-belief. “[For] me, if you believe in yourself, then you’re giving yourself a chance,” she said. “If you don’t believe, then you’ll have no chance at succeeding at all.”
On the Cusp of History
With her new ranking of World No. 54, Eala is on the threshold of breaking into the WTA Top 50, a milestone no Filipina has ever reached. The tennis prodigy has little time to rest, as she is set to compete next in the Japan Open beginning on October 13, followed by the Guangzhou Open and Hong Kong Open later this month.
Each tournament presents a new opportunity for Eala to continue her historic climb. As she stated in an interview with Vogue Philippines, her accomplishments have only fueled her ambition: “I’m so proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished… It’s made me feel hungry to do even more and to work even harder.” The world of tennis watches with anticipation as this trailblazing athlete from the Philippines continues her remarkable journey.
