JUNIOR ACE ALEX EALA RACKS UP RECORDS AT THE WOMEN'S TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Photo courtesy of Rafa Nadal Academy

It has been a while since the Philippines gleamed in the Women Tennis Association (WTA), and Filipina Teen Ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala is firing up several outstanding tennis at numerous International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments.

She has been high climbing ranks at the professional circuit, currently the world No. 662 in the WTA ranking, taking a giant leap after starting at rank No. 715., and rank No. 2 in the ITF junior ranking — making her the highest-ranking Southeast Asian junior player.

In 2017, she was awarded the Doubles Player of the year by Tennis Europe, and in 2018, she became the Overseas Player of the Year. As of writing, Eala is the current Australian Open Girls’ Doubles title holder alongside Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho, after ruling the Australian Open Junior Girls' tournament in 2020, which certainly brought honor to the country as she becomes the first Filipina to win a grand slam title, and the third Filipino to become a junior grand slam champion after Eric Taino and Francis Alcantara.

The Philippines’ rising Tennis star is now a scholar at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, seemingly unstoppable in smashing wins and making historic achievements for her country as she is scheduled to get back on the court and compete tomorrow, May 17th, at the W25 Platja d’Aro tournament in Spain.

At 15, Eala already made headlines as a top-rated junior player and a maiden pro titleholder. She started carving her name in the tennis scene as early as six years old and instantly made a mark at various local and international pro tournaments, including World Junior Tennis, US Open Junior, and ITF Junior Tour.