MANILA — Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala has rewritten Philippine tennis history anew, surging to a career-high world No. 17 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings, the highest ever achieved by a Filipino or Southeast Asian player.
The 21-year-old Eala climbed one spot from her previous career-best No. 18, attained in August, further cementing her status among the world’s elite women’s tennis players.
The latest rankings placed Eala between four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan at No. 16 and Canadian-Filipina Leylah Fernandez at No. 18.
Eala’s historic ascent caps a remarkable climb in the 2026 season, having started the year at world No. 53 before steadily advancing through 26 tournaments.
Her breakthrough campaign was highlighted by her maiden WTA singles championship at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, a major achievement that strengthened her standing on the international circuit.
The new milestone comes as Eala prepares for another test at the Hong Kong Open, where she is scheduled to face American Alycia Parks in the opening round.
With her ranking now at a record high, Eala will seek to sustain her momentum and further improve her position among the world’s top players./PN
