Alex Eala rises to world No. 75 in WTA rankings
Alex Eala of the Philippines returns a shot against Jessica Pegula during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala has officially soared into the top 75 of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
The Filipino sensation leaped from 140th to 75th in the latest WTA rankings Monday following her historic campaign at the 2025 Miami Open, where she reached the semifinal round.
Eala a wild card, knocked off three Grand Slam champions on her way to the tournament’s Final Four before falling to home bet and World No. 4 Jessica Pegula in three grueling sets.
READ: Alex Eala says ‘the real work starts’ after Miami Open success
“I recognize that these two weeks have opened the door to so many opportunities for me, but along with those opportunities come a whole new set of obstacles I will have to navigate through. The real work starts,” Eala wrote on Instagram Sunday.
Eala’s massive rise in the rankings has also secured her spot in each of the four Grand Slam main draws.
The 19-year-old Eala’s giant-slaying run in the round of 64, toppling world No. 25 and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 7-6 (2), 7-5 before shocking world No. 5 Madison Keys, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinal.
Eala was handed a place in the quarterfinal after Spain’s Paula Badosa withdrew from their fourth-round match due to a lower back injury.
READ: Alex Eala: Philippines’ smash hit on path toward tennis stardom
The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate chalked up the biggest win of her young career in the quarterfinal, sweeping world No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5.
Eala was only the second wildcard to get three consecutive wins over Grand Slam champions at a single WTA event.
She became the first Filipino to reach the semis of a WTA 1000 tournament and knock off two top five players since the WTA Tour rankings were published in 1975.
