Alex Eala Makes History As The First Filipina To Enter The Women's Tennis Association Top 50

The new year has barely begun, but Alex Eala is already checking major(!) milestones off her list. The Filipina tennis player made history as the first athlete from the Philippines to crack the world No. 49 spot in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, marking the highest ranking of her career so far.

This comes after her start-of-the-year breakthrough at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, where she teamed up with Iva Jovic in women's doubles and defeated veterans Venus Williams and Elina Svitolina.

Alex reflected on the lessons she carried from 2025, which was a breakthrough season that saw her rise to world No. 50 by the end of the year, and she promised to bring a bigger drive and mindset into the year ahead as she pursues new goals. 

"The past year reminded me how powerful love, support, and community can be. Now I'm excited for what this new year brings—new goals to chase, new memories to create, and more meaningful moments to share with the people I love," Alex shared.

"This year is about being braver, dreaming bigger, loving harder, and doing more for the people and passions that matter most," she added. 

ICYDK, WTA rankings shape a player's standing, opportunities, and career growth in women's professional tennis. Usually, rankings are calculated using a player's best results from up to 18 singles tournaments and 12 doubles tournaments. Points are earned based on the tournament's level and how far the player advances in each event, making the system a measure of consistent performance rather than one-time success.

For Alex, ranking 49th in the world is more than just a number—it's a defining leap from being No. 158 by the end of 2024. Along the way, she proved that she deserves a seat at the table. Some of her key moments from last year include being the first Filipina to defeat Top 10 WTA players in 2025, including Iga Świątek and Madison Keys. She is also the first Filipina to compete in the Wimbledon Championships, which is widely regarded as the most prestigious tournament in the sport.

"It's a big thing to take in, and I feel it's important for me to take it in step by step. I'm so super proud of what I was able to accomplish, but it definitely fuels me more," Alex shared.

Alex is now heading to Melbourne, Australia, for the 2026 Australian Open from January 13 to 15, 2026.