(DC file photo)
MANILA – Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala continued her impressive rise in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, reaching a career-high world No. 15 following her runner-up finish at the 2026 Hong Kong Tennis Open.
Despite falling short of the championship, Eala gained valuable ranking points from her finals appearance, allowing her to climb two spots from her previous world No. 17 position.
The 21-year-old Filipino tennis star ended her campaign with a 3-6, 0-6 defeat to American Claire Liu in Sunday’s championship match.
Eala experienced physical discomfort during the final and required a medical timeout to have her right knee examined while trailing in the opening set.
Despite the setback, her performance in Hong Kong marked another significant milestone in her professional career.
The tournament also saw Eala secure important victories, including a straight-sets win over Czech player Tereza Valentova in the round of 16.
Her latest ranking improvement further strengthens her position among the world’s leading women’s tennis players as she concludes her 2026 season.
Eala’s rise to No. 15 represents another achievement for Philippine tennis and provides momentum heading into the 2027 WTA Tour.
