Alex Eala’s remarkable run in Mexico has propelled her to a new career milestone, as the 20-year-old Filipina tennis star surged to No. 61 in the latest WTA live rankings.
Her rise comes on the heels of a historic triumph at the Guadalajara Open, where she captured her very first WTA title—an achievement no other Filipina has ever accomplished.
Eala battled back from a tough opening set to defeat Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the championship match, cementing her place among the sport’s brightest young talents.
The victory drew praise from no less than 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who congratulated his protégé on social media. “Congrats Alex Eala for your first WTA title. I am happy and proud of what you are achieving for yourself and for the Philippines,” Nadal wrote.
Eala honed her game at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, where she trained for seven years and built the foundation for her current success.
Now, the Filipina is turning her attention to an even bigger stage: the São Paulo Open in Brazil, a WTA 250 tournament. Seeded third, she joins a strong field led by Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia and Argentina’s Solana Sierra. Eala opens her campaign against qualifier Yasmine Mansouri of France.
The São Paulo Open offers 280 ranking points to the champion and 180 to the runner-up—an opportunity Eala is determined to seize as she looks to continue her climb and push closer to the world’s top 50.
From making history in Guadalajara to chasing greater heights in Brazil, Alex Eala’s journey is a story of perseverance, talent, and a growing legacy for Philippine tennis.