By Samantha Yu
MANILA — Pinay tennis star Alex Eala continues her upward trajectory on the international stage after a quarterfinal finish in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a performance that delivered both substantial prize money and a boost in global rankings.
Although her campaign ended in the Last Eight of the prestigious WTA 1000 event, the 20-year-old netted $98,500 (around ₱5.7 million) from the tournament’s $4,088,211 total prize fund, based on figures released by the Women’s Tennis Association.
The payout matched the earnings of fellow quarterfinalists Antonia Ruzic, Clara Tauson and Mirra Andreeva, and was significantly higher than the $49,250 awarded to players who exited in the Round of 16.
215 ranking points
More importantly, Eala earned 215 ranking points from her Dubai stint, a haul expected to lift her to World No. 32 in the live standings — a new career milestone that surpasses her previous best ranking of No. 40.
The tournament offers even bigger incentives in the later stages, with semifinalists receiving 390 points and $197,000, the runner-up collecting 650 points and $385,000, and the champion claiming $665,000 along with 1,000 ranking points.
After wrapping up her Middle East swing, Eala is set to shift her focus to the Indian Wells Open beginning March 4, followed by participation in the Miami Open, where she previously turned heads with victories over higher-ranked opponents.
Despite falling short of a podium finish in Dubai, Eala’s latest performance reinforces her steady climb among the world’s elite and highlights her growing potential as one of Asia’s brightest tennis prospects.
