Alex Eala has experienced a remarkable rise in the WTA rankings, climbing from 148th at the beginning of the year to 54th as the competitive season draws to a close. With three weeks remaining, the 20-year-old tennis star has the potential to elevate her ranking further.
Eala’s recent performances have showcased her skills and determination. She advanced to the semifinals of the WTA 125 Jingshan on September 27, followed by a quarterfinal appearance at the WTA 125 Suzhou the week after. Although her journey at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open ended in the qualifying round on October 4, the early exit allowed her to recharge before embarking on a critical three-week run across two countries, where she will compete in three WTA 250 events.
The first stop in her ambitious schedule is the Japan Women’s Open held at the Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka. This tournament features prominent players, including local favorite and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, a two-time Grand Slam champion. Eala is set to face a qualifier in her opening match. A victory could lead to a second-round clash against the world No. 21 Elise Mertens—a former world No. 1 in doubles—or Cristina Bucsa of Spain, who previously defeated Eala at the US Open.
Following Osaka, Eala will head to China for the Guangzhou Open at the Nansha International Tennis Center from October 20-26. Competing as the fifth seed, she will face tough competition, including Germany’s Tatjana Maria, top-seeded in the event. Notably, Maria recently added another title to her accolades, defeating world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova to become one of the oldest players to win a WTA title.
Eala’s season will culminate at the Hong Kong Open from October 27 to November 2, where she will once again encounter a challenging lineup that includes Osaka, Leylah Fernandez, Bucsa, and Maria Sakkari. She may also face former Grand Slam champions like Emma Raducanu and Sofia Kenin, further testing her mettle against some of the best in the sport.
Eala’s journey illustrates her growth and resilience as a professional athlete, and her upcoming matches provide her with the perfect opportunity to further prove herself on an international stage. With each tournament, she not only competes against formidable opponents but also continues to inspire budding tennis players around the world.