Tennis star Alex Eala begins 2022 at world No. 8

FILE – Filipino tennis star Alex Eala during a Wimbledon girls’ doubles match. Photo from Alex Eala’s Facebook

MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala is kicking off the new year at world No.8 in the International Tennis Federation rankings after closing 2021 at tenth.

The 16-year-old jumped two places with  1,481 points to her name, 6.5 points behind No.7 Robin Montgomery of the United States.

Eala reached a peak standing of No.2 in July 2021 after she and Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva won the French Open junior doubles title defeating Maria Bondarenko of Russia and Amarissa Kiara Tóth of Hungary, 6-0, 7-5.

She also captured the title in the ITF Milan tournament when swept Nikola Bartunkova, 6-3, 6-3, in July.

Croatia’s Petra Marcinko is at the top of the ITF girls’ rankings with 2,367.25 points while Linda Fruhvirtova was at second with 2,305.25 points with Diana Shnaider of Russia taking third at 2,274.25 points.

Brena Fruhvirtova, the younger sister of Linda, came in at fourth in the standings at 2,176 points with Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva of Andorra rounding out the top five with 1,901.5 points.

Russia’s Ksenia Zaytseva moved from seventh to sixth with 1,569.75 points Solana Sierra of Argentia jumped two places to ninth from No.11 with 1,423.5 points.

USA’s Clervie Ngounoue capped off the top 10 after he skipped two places from No.12 with 1,346.25 points.