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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala cracks WTA Top 50 after landmark season

Alex Eala cracks WTA Top 50 after landmark season

Published Nov 3, 2025 02:13 pm

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala continues her historic rise in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings after breaking into the Top 50 for the first time in her career this week.
Alex Eala is now ranked No. 50 in the world. (Alex Eala Facebook)
Alex Eala is now ranked No. 50 in the world. (Alex Eala Facebook)
Alex Eala continues her historic rise in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings after breaking into the Top 50 for the first time in her career this week.
The 20-year-old Filipina trailblazer jumped one notch from No. 51 last week despite a second-round finish at the WTA250 Hong Kong Open a few days ago.
Eala advanced to the second round after British player Katie Boulter retired to injury, 6-4, 2-1 (ret), but yielded to Canadian third seed and eventual champion Victoria Mboko, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Still, it was enough to give her ranking points that would boost her rankings at the end of her season.
“I enjoyed every minute I spent on court. Everything from the fight to the fans was something to remember, and will hold a special place in my memories. Thank you, Hong Kong,” Eala wrote on her Instagram post shortly after her exit at the said tournament.
Overall, it was an sensational season for Eala, who started the year ranked No. 138.
She highlighted her season with a stunning semifinal finish at the Miami Open, which included beating Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek along the way that propelled her inside the Top 75 at the end of March.
She followed it up with a first finals appearance at the Lexus Eastbourne Open in Great Britain in July, and then winning her historic first WTA singles title at the Guadalajara Open in September, a WTA125 tournament.
With her pro season over, Eala is expected to suit up for the national team in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next month. She won two bronze medals -- women’s singles and mixed doubles with Treat Huey -- in the 2021 edition in Vietnam.
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