Key Takeaways
- Alex Eala reached a new career-high WTA ranking of No. 31, climbing 16 positions from No. 47.
- Her achievement makes her the highest-ranked Filipino player in WTA history and the first to reach No. 31 in singles.
- Eala’s ranking improved after her performance at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she reached the quarterfinals.
- At the Dubai event, she secured victories over three players before losing to Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.
- Currently, Eala competes at the Rafa Nadal Academy and plans to participate in upcoming tournaments like the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open.
Alex Eala new career-high WTA rankings milestone was confirmed on February 23, 2026. Alex Eala climbed 16 places in the latest Women’s Tennis Association singles rankings. She moved from No. 47 to No. 31 in the world. This position marks the highest ranking of her professional career.
The updated rankings were released on Monday. The new placement makes her the highest-ranked Filipino player in WTA history. She is the first player from the Philippines to reach No. 31 in singles.
Dubai Performance Behind Alex Eala New Career-High WTA Rankings
The Alex Eala new career-high WTA rankings result followed her run at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The event is classified as a WTA 1000 tournament. She advanced to the quarterfinal stage.
During the tournament, she secured wins over Hailey Baptiste, Jasmine Paolini, and Sorana Cîrstea. Her campaign ended in the quarterfinals after a loss to Coco Gauff. The ranking points earned in Dubai contributed directly to her rise in the standings.
Before Dubai, her best career ranking had been No. 40 earlier in the season. The 16-spot improvement surpassed that previous mark.
Career Background and Season Progress
Alex Eala is 20 years old. She trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. She turned professional in 2020. She previously became the first Filipino player to break into the WTA Top 100.
In 2025, she won a WTA 125 title at the Guadalajara 125 Open. That victory marked her first title at that level.
So far in 2026, she has competed in six tournaments. These include the ASB Classic, the Australian Open, events in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, and the Dubai tournament. Following the Dubai event and the Alex Eala new career-high WTA rankings update, she is scheduled to compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
Source: https://www.si.com/onsi/serve/news/alex-eala-hits-new-career-high-wta-rankings
