Alex Eala closes in on top 30 with new career-high ranking

MANILA, Philippines – At about the same time a year ago, Alex Eala stood outside the world top 100. Now, she is close to cracking the top 30.

Eala rose to a career-high No. 31 in the latest WTA rankings released on Monday, February 23, following her run to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Buoyed by the cheers of Filipinos fans who packed the Aviation Club Tennis Centre whenever she played, Eala reached the last eight of a WTA Tournament for only the second time after she made the semifinals of the 2025 Miami Open — a campaign that allowed her to break through the top 100 for the first time.

In Dubai, the Filipina got a walkover win over Hailey Baptiste of the USA in the round of 64, stunned now-world No. 7 Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the round of 32, then outlasted Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the round of 16 to arrange a quarterfinal date with two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff of the USA. 

But Gauff, ranked 4th in the world, proved to be too hot to handle for her former doubles partner as she handily beat Eala, 6-0, 6-2. 

The loss marked the end of Eala’s Middle East swing that saw her advance to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open and suffer an early first-round exit from the WTA 1000 Qatar Open. 

Still, it was a memorable stretch for the 20-year-old. 

“Three weeks of fighting with love and pride has come to an end here in Dubai,” Eala wrote on Instagram. “The competition, the atmosphere, the hospitality, and the full-blown support has made these weeks ones I’ll never forget!” 

Eala earned 205 points from Dubai as she enjoyed the biggest jump among players in the top 50, climbing 16 spots from No. 47 last week and improving nine spots from her previous career high of No. 40 she achieved two weeks ago.

It was also Eala’s biggest leap in rankings since she rose 14 spots from No. 75 to No. 61 in September after she captured her first WTA 125 title in the Guadalajara Open in Mexico. 

Aside from a new career-high ranking, Eala also pocketed $98,500 (nearly P5.7 million) in prize money.

Eala takes her act to the United States as she competes in the prestigious Indian Wells Open, another WTA 1000 event, that will begin on March 4.

Considered one of the biggest tournaments outside the four Grand Slams, Indian Wells will feature the top players in the world, including No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland, and No. 3 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. – Rappler.com