Alexandra Eala just made history—again. The 19-year-old Filipina sensation turned heads at the Miami Open, pulling off stunning wins against Grand Slam champions like Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. And while her semifinal run ended, her ranking has soared—jumping 65 spots from No. 140 to a career-high No. 75.
That’s not just a personal milestone. Eala is now the first-ever Filipino player to break into the WTA Top 100.
A Trailblazer for Philippine Tennis
Eala has been rewriting Philippine tennis history for years. Back in 2021, she became the first Filipina to compete (and win) in a WTA main draw in Cluj-Napoca. By 2022, she had already surpassed the country’s previous highest ranking (No. 284, set by Maricris Gentz in 1999). And now? She’s cemented her place among the sport’s rising stars.
For context, before Miami, Eala had never won back-to-back tour-level matches. Now, she’s in the WTA’s Top 100, and it looks like she’s just getting started.
More Rising Stars
Eala’s Miami breakthrough wasn’t the only big move in the rankings. Fellow 19-year-old Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva of Andorra—who won the 2020 Australian Open junior title—has been on the rise again, reaching a WTA 125 final in Antalya and climbing 21 spots to No. 130.
But right now, the spotlight is all on Eala. With this game-changing run, she’s not just inspiring Filipino tennis fans—she’s showing the world that she’s here to stay.