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Alex Eala Soars To Career-High World No. 45 Ahead Of Abu Dhabi Open Campaign
Photo credit: Alex Eala IG
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala has reached a new milestone in her young professional career, climbing to a career-best world No. 45 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings released Monday.
The 20-year-old standout jumped four spots from No. 49 and now holds 1,163 ranking points, solidifying her position as the highest-ranked Filipino singles player in WTA history — a remarkable achievement for an athlete still rising through the global tennis circuit.
Eala’s rise comes after a strong start to her 2026 season, highlighted by competitive showings in key tournaments. She reached the quarterfinals of the Philippine Women’s Open, a WTA 125 event held in Manila for the first time, giving home-court fans a rare chance to watch her compete professionally. Earlier in the year, she also posted solid results at international stops, including the ASB Classic and her latest Grand Slam appearance.
With momentum on her side, Eala now turns her focus to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a prestigious WTA 500 tournament. She will open her campaign in the Round of 32 against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, a matchup that has drawn attention from fans eager to see Eala test herself against higher-ranked competition.
In doubles, Eala is also expected to pair with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, adding another layer of anticipation for Southeast Asian tennis supporters following her growing success on the tour.
Eala’s climb has been steady and significant — from cracking the top 100 to now becoming a consistent presence in top-tier tournaments. Known for her heavy left-handed spin, impressive court coverage, and fast-maturing game, she enters Abu Dhabi with both confidence and momentum.
As the 2026 season unfolds, fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see whether Eala can turn her career-best ranking into deeper runs at WTA 500 and WTA 1000 events — and possibly break into the world’s top 40 next.
The 20-year-old standout jumped four spots from No. 49 and now holds 1,163 ranking points, solidifying her position as the highest-ranked Filipino singles player in WTA history — a remarkable achievement for an athlete still rising through the global tennis circuit.
Eala’s rise comes after a strong start to her 2026 season, highlighted by competitive showings in key tournaments. She reached the quarterfinals of the Philippine Women’s Open, a WTA 125 event held in Manila for the first time, giving home-court fans a rare chance to watch her compete professionally. Earlier in the year, she also posted solid results at international stops, including the ASB Classic and her latest Grand Slam appearance.
With momentum on her side, Eala now turns her focus to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a prestigious WTA 500 tournament. She will open her campaign in the Round of 32 against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, a matchup that has drawn attention from fans eager to see Eala test herself against higher-ranked competition.
In doubles, Eala is also expected to pair with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, adding another layer of anticipation for Southeast Asian tennis supporters following her growing success on the tour.
Eala’s climb has been steady and significant — from cracking the top 100 to now becoming a consistent presence in top-tier tournaments. Known for her heavy left-handed spin, impressive court coverage, and fast-maturing game, she enters Abu Dhabi with both confidence and momentum.
As the 2026 season unfolds, fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see whether Eala can turn her career-best ranking into deeper runs at WTA 500 and WTA 1000 events — and possibly break into the world’s top 40 next.
Feb 2, 2026
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