Filipina hitter Alex Eala breaches the Top 140 in the WTA rankings as she prepares to fight for a spot in the main draw of the 2025 Australian Open.
Philippine tennis ace Alex Eala achieved a new career-high in the WTA rankings a day before she is set to compete in the qualifying tournament of the 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne.
Eala, 19, moved up to world no. 138 in the WTA rankings in the first release for 2025, five places above her previous career-high at world no. 143.
It is also nine places ahead of her year-end ranking at the end of 2024 where she ended up at world no. 147 in the rankings released on December 30.
The surge follows the Filipina’s first-ever semifinal in a WTA match as she reached the Final Four in the WTA 125 Canberra also in Australia in her first tournament of the new season. She reached the semis after qualifying to the main draw through qualifiers.
Now, Eala faces a hurdle she hasn’t overcome yet before: getting into the main draw of a Grand Slam.
The Rafa Nadal Academy scholar has reached the final qualifying match of multiple Grand Slams last year, but always fell short in the final match.
With the Australian Open, Eala has the chance to reach a new level in her career.
However, a familiar foe awaits Eala in Croatia’s Jana Fett.
Eala faced off against Fett back in 2021 in the quarterfinals of the W25 tiff in Manacor in Spain. Eala lost to Fett, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7.
Of note, however, that Fett has had a string of losses leading up to the match, including three straight in her last three tournaments.
Fett exited the WTA 125 Canberra in the Round of 16 falling against top-seed Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, 6-3, 4-6, 6(5)-7.
Eala and Fett face off on Tuesday, January 7, at 7 a.m., Manila time in the first round of qualifiers.