MANILA — Philippine tennis ace Alexandra Eala has taken another major leap on the global stage after breaking into the top 40 of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings, a career-first milestone that underscores her rapid rise on the women’s tour.
The 20-year-old Southeast Asian Games gold medalist entered the elite bracket following the latest WTA rankings released early Monday, just as she opened her campaign in the Qatar Open in Doha.
Eala’s climb into the top 40 came after a string of strong performances in recent tournaments, marking a significant jump from her previous position outside the top 45.
Her latest ranking was reflected while she was already in action, contesting her opening-round match of the WTA 1000 event against Czech qualifier Tereza Valentova late Monday night.
The breakthrough was fueled by an impressive run at the Abu Dhabi Open, where Eala reached the singles quarterfinals and pushed deeper in doubles play, advancing to the semifinals.
Her doubles campaign also paid dividends in the rankings, as she surged into the world’s top 100 in the doubles standings at No. 99.
Eala’s entry into the top 40 not only cements her status as one of the fastest-rising players on the women’s circuit but also strengthens her pathway to consistent main-draw entries in top-tier tournaments, where she is expected to face higher-ranked opponents more regularly.
The milestone marks another historic step for Philippine tennis, with Eala continuing to blaze a trail on the international stage./PN
