By Emille Blanc
MANILA – Filipina tennis standout Alex Eala has climbed to a new career-high ranking of World No. 28 in the live standings of the Women’s Tennis Association following her impressive performance at the BNP Paribas Open in California.
As of March 13, 2026, the 20-year-old Filipina improved from her previous ranking of No. 32, which she held as of March 2, marking another milestone in her rapidly rising professional career.
The ranking boost comes despite some circulating online reports claiming that Eala’s position had dropped after her campaign at Indian Wells. In fact, her strong showing in the tournament — where she reached the Round of 16 — earned her valuable ranking points that pushed her further up the ladder in the live rankings.
During her breakthrough run in Indian Wells, Eala delivered notable victories, including a win over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska and a triumph against American star Coco Gauff, who was forced to retire due to injury during their match.
Eala’s campaign eventually ended in the Round of 16 after she bowed to rising Czech talent Linda Noskova. Despite the loss, the deep run significantly boosted her standing in the global rankings and reinforced her status as one of Asia’s brightest young tennis prospects.
Her latest ranking milestone highlights the steady progress of the Filipina star on the international stage and underscores the growing presence of Philippine tennis in elite global competition.
Eala is now expected to shift her focus to the upcoming Miami Open, where she aims to build on her momentum and continue her climb in the world rankings.
