Eala, First Filipina to Enter the Top 50!
At just 20 years old, Alexandra Eala has just accomplished what no Filipina had ever achieved before her: breaking into the world's Top 50.
She had already shattered a historic barrier last March by becoming the first woman from her country to break into the Top 100. But the Quezon City native did not want to stop there.
This November 3, 2025, thus marks another significant milestone in her career, as she officially entered the WTA Top 50 (ranked 50th). This achievement came following a first-round victory over Boulter (6-4, 2-1, ret.) in Hong Kong.
2025 will surely be remembered as Eala's breakthrough year. As early as the Miami tournament, she had already stunned by becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal, defeating Keys (6-4, 6-2) and Swiatek (6-2, 7-5) along the way.
And a few months later, in Eastbourne, Eala came within a whisker of her first-ever WTA title, only succumbing in a tight tie-break (6-4, 1-6, 7-6 [10]) to Australian Maya Joint, after having held three match points.
And as if that weren't enough, the young Filipina pushed the boundaries even further at the US Open, where she became the first player from her country to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam in the Open Era (a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 victory over Clara Tauson).
