Current world no. 140 Alex Eala is projected to breach the WTA top 100, following her stunning quarterfinal win over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Miami Open. She is now at no. 75 in the live WTA rankings.
World no. 140 Alex Eala is in the middle of a career breakthrough, as she is projected to enter the top 100 of the WTA rankings following her sensational quarterfinal victory over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Miami Open.
The 19-year-old Filipina, who started the tournament ranked No. 140, has been on a dream run, taking down some of the sport’s biggest names as a wildcard entry.
After the quarterfinals, Eala jumped 65 places up the live rankings to no. 75.
Her straight-set win over Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, not only marked the biggest victory of her career but also assured her of a massive leap in the rankings, possibly guaranteeing direct entry into future Grand Slam tournaments.
Eala, a 2022 US Open junior champion, has suffered heartbreak after heartbreak in Grand Slam qualifiers as a senior.
Thrice in 2024, she reached the third and final round of the qualifiers, and thrice she fell short.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala plays match of a lifetime to upset world no. 2 Iga Swiatek: 'Forever in my heart']
As Eala continues her impressive run in the 2025 Miami Open, her live ranking has climbed significantly compared to her official ranking before the tournament.
This difference occurs because the WTA ranking system is based on a rolling 52-week points system, with official updates released every Monday.
The live ranking is an unofficial, real-time projection of a player's standing, factoring in their latest results. Meanwhile, the official ranking remains unchanged until the next update.
Once the tournament concludes and the WTA rankings are refreshed, Eala's new ranking will be finalized, cementing her rise among the world's top players.
[ALSO READ: World no. 2 Iga Swiatek tips hat to Alex Eala in Miami Open shocker: 'She went all out']
Nonetheless, Eala’s Miami Open campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary.
She kicked off her run with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over world No. 73 Katie Volynets before upsetting 2017 French Open champion and world no. 25 Jelena Ostapenko, 7-6(2), 7-5.
In the Round of 32, she delivered another shocker, ousting reigning Australian Open champion and world no. 5 Madison Keys, 6-4, 6-2.
[ALSO READ: Grand Slam champions Alex Eala has beaten – and who’s next at the Miami Open?]
This historic run will mark Eala’s first time entering the WTA Top 100, making her the highest-ranked Filipina player in history.
For now, Eala will set her sights on even more history and points as she readies for the semifinals against either fourth seed Jessica Pegula or 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu.