Alex Eala ended her historic 2026 season at a career-best No. 15, climbing two spots from No. 17 in the WTA rankings released Monday, November 9. She finished with 2,392 points, making her the highest-ranked Filipino and Southeast Asian player in WTA history.
The jump came after a runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open, her final tournament of the year. Eala beat former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari in the semifinals before losing the November 8 final to American Claire Liu, 6-3, 6-0.
The result capped a breakthrough year. Eala finished 2025 at No. 50, then won the WTA 125 title in Birmingham in June and her first WTA Tour title at the Washington Open in August, where she beat Jessica Pegula in the final. She also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, her deepest Grand Slam run, and the third round at the US Open.
“Yeah, this season has just, it’s changed my life. It’s changed my life for the better. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve put in this year.” Eala said after the Hong Kong final.
What a year, Alex! 🎾💙
🏆 Titles in Washington and Birmingham
🌱 Wimbledon last 16
🥈 Hong Kong finalist
📈 Career-high World No. 15Proud of your journey! 💙🌍
VAMOS!!
https://t.co/9QuDHlFI0A
— Rafa Nadal Academy (@rnadalacademy) November 9, 2026
With her historic Top 15 finish, Eala now shifts her focus to recovery and preparations for the 2027 season, including the Australian Open in January 2027.
For Philippine tennis, Eala’s extraordinary rise represents another significant milestone. From ending 2025 at World No. 50 to closing 2026 among the world’s Top 15, Alex Eala has firmly established herself as one of the brightest rising stars in women’s tennis and could potentially crack the top 10 by next year!
