Alex Eala at the Guadalajara 125 Open.–GDL OPEN PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala rose to World No. 61 in the latest rankings after becoming the first Filipino to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title
Buoyed by her Guadalajara 125 Open title run in Mexico, Eala jumped 14 spots from 75th coming off her Guadalajara 125 Open championship run.
Eala, who has career-high ranking of No. 56, is also seeded third in her upcoming Sao Paulo Open, a WTA 250 tournament in Brazil starting this week.
The 20-year-old netter withstood Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the Guadalajara Open final, which was her second appearance in a title match since her runner-up finish in the Eastbourne Open.
The Rafa Nadal Academy, which honed Eala’s talent, congratulated its graduate.
“What a night in Guadalajara! After dropping the first set, Alex roared back with all her heart to defeat Udvardy and claim her first WTA singles title!” wrote the Rafa Nadal Academy, congratulating one of its prized wards. “She’s now the first Filipino — man or woman — to win a WTA singles. Goosebumps. Pure pride.”
Eala also recently won her first Grand Slam main draw win at the US Open before losing in the second round.
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