Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala has enjoyed a remarkable year in 2025, achieving several milestones in her career and making notable strides for Philippine tennis. As she prepares to launch her campaign at the Hong Kong Open—her final WTA event of the season—it’s an opportune moment to reflect on her journey this year, which includes significant victories such as her inspiring performance in the Miami Open, her first WTA title in Eastbourne, and a historic Grand Slam win at the US Open.
Eala currently boasts a career-high ranking of No. 51 in the world, inching closer to the esteemed Top 50 in the latest rankings published on October 27. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) notes that a player’s ranking is based on their results across a maximum of 18 tournaments for singles, with points awarded according to the level of competition and a player’s progression in each tournament.
In October, Eala kicked off her month with a strong showing, reaching the semifinals at the Jingshan Tennis Open and making it to the quarterfinals in the Suzhou Open WTA 125. Her other ventures included entering the qualifying rounds of the Wuhan Open and competing in the Japan Women’s Open, although she faced an early exit at the Guangzhou Open.
This upward trend in her ranking reflects her impressive performance in September, where she not only celebrated her first Grand Slam victory at the US Open but also secured her first WTA 125 title at the Guadalajara Open. That month saw her ranking jump from No. 61 to No. 58, quickly progressing further to No. 51 by the end of October.
Eala’s journey throughout the year began with challenges; she encountered early exits in the Italian and French Opens in May after advancing to the Round of 64 in Madrid, where she faced off against World No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
Notably, her breakout moment arrived during the Miami Open, where she astoundingly defeated high-ranking opponents like Swiatek, Madison Keys, and Jelena Ostapenko, enabling her to leap more than 60 positions in the world rankings to become the first Filipina to penetrate the Top 100.
With each tournament, Eala has demonstrated resilience and determination, establishing herself not only as a prominent figure in Philippine tennis but also on the global stage. Her journey is a testament to hard work and dedication, and fans eagerly anticipate her future performances as she continues to break barriers and make history in the sport.