Alex Eala has enjoyed a breakout season on the WTA Tour, reaching a career-high ranking of 15 following her run to the Hong Kong Open final on Sunday. The 20-year-old Filipina star secured her first WTA Tour event in Washington and performed strongly at high-profile events, defeating players such as Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.
Comparing 2026 and 2025 Points Totals
Eala performed strongly throughout 2026, making her a late contender to qualify for the year-ending WTA Finals. Although she ultimately missed qualification for the Finals, she finished 17th in the 2026 WTA Finals race by accumulating 2,224 ranking points across the campaign. In comparison, during her 2025 season, Eala achieved notable results including defeating Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek on her way to the Miami Open semi-finals, alongside securing her first main draw victory at a Grand Slam by beating Clara Tauson at the US Open. After a second-round loss to Victoria Mboko at the 2025 Hong Kong Open, Eala finished that year ranked 71st in the WTA Finals race with 806 points collected throughout the season.
Upcoming Exhibition Match in the Philippines
Eala plans to take some time away from competitive play following the conclusion of the 2026 WTA Tour season. She is scheduled to return on December 8 to participate in the ‘Game Set Celebrate’ exhibition in the Philippines, where she will face Janice Tjen of Indonesia at the Philippine Arena, a venue with a capacity of up to 55,000 people.
“Every time I play abroad, I carry the Philippines with me,” Eala stated in a statement earlier this year, adding, “To come home and play in front of our fans will be incredibly special.” She also noted her desire for the event to celebrate tennis, culture, and the sport’s young players, concluding, “And if all of us come together, maybe we can make a little history too.”
