FILE – Alex Eala makes history in Paris. Photo from Rafael Nadal Academy
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino teen ace Alex Eala continues her rise as one of the top junior tennis players in the world.
In the latest ITF junior rankings, Eala has jumped to number two in the girls’ category.
The 15-year-old Eala climbed two spots on the heels of her sterling performance in the 2020 Roland Garros girls singles tournament where she made the semifinal.
Eala failed to make the final after falling, 6-3, 6-2, to hometown bet Elsa Jacquemot, who rose four spots in the rankings following the victory and is now world number one.
Despite the exit, Eala still made history as the first Filipino to reach that far in a Grand Slam event since Felix Barrientos.
Barrientos was a semifinalist in the juniors tournament during the 1985 Wimbledon.