 |
| Alex Eala officially barged inside the Top 100. |
MANILA—Alex Eala has reached a new milestone in her young career, rising to World No. 75 in the latest WTA rankings following her incredible semifinal run at the Miami Open from March 16-30.
The 19-year-old Filipina stunned the tennis world with back-to-back victories over three Grand Slam champions, proving she belongs among the sport’s elite.
Eala began her campaign as a wild card entry, but quickly showed she was more than just an underdog.
She beat World No. 73 Katie Volynets (6-3, 7-6) in the first round before pulling off a massive second-round upset over former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko (7-6, 7-5).
Her fairytale run continued when she shocked World No. 5 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys (6-4, 6-2) to reach the Round of 16.
Eala then received a walkover from World No. 10 Paula Badosa who suffered a lower back injury, securing a spot in her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.
In her most stunning performance yet, Eala outclassed World No. 2 Iga Swiatek (6-2, 7-5), securing her place in the Miami Open semifinals and marking the biggest victory of her career.
Her dream run ended in the final four after a grueling three-set battle against World No. 4 Jessica Pegula (6-7, 7-5, 3-6), but her efforts cemented her status as one of the sport’s rising stars.
Eala, who started the tournament ranked No. 140, climbed 65 spots to No. 75, marking the highest-ever ranking not just for her but for any Filipina in history.
She also earned 390 WTA points and took home $332,160 (PHP 19 million) in prize money.
Following her Miami Open campaign, Eala expressed her emotions in a heartfelt message to her supporters in a Facebook post.
"Wow, this year’s Miami Open has left me speechless and so full of emotion, mostly pride and gratitude. I’m proud of myself for pushing through those tough moments, as well as to have been able to make a statement for the Philippines in one of the biggest stages of tennis. Moreover, I’m thankful for all the positivity coming my way, and I pray that you all continue sending support through the highs and lows. Salamat sa lahat ng pagdadasal at magagandang mensahe. I recognize that these two weeks have opened the door to so many opportunities for me, but along with those opportunities come a whole new set of obstacles I will have to navigate through. The real work starts now," her statement reads.
With her new ranking and confidence at an all-time high, Eala is set to take on even bigger challenges as she continues her journey in the next WTA tourneys.
Follow the site on X: @DugoutPH
.jpg)
