By Alona Cochon
ROME – Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala saw her Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking increase four notches after winning her opening-round match against Poland’s Magdalena Frech, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4, at the Italian Open here Wednesday.
According to the latest WTA rankings, the 20-year-old Filipina is now at 38th, a ranking that may change depending on the results of her next match against fellow Asian player Wang Xinyu of China in the round of 64.
Wang, currently ranked 31st, entered the Italian Open as the No. 31 seed, allowing her to receive a first-round bye.
“I think I’ve come a long way from last year. It really means a lot because my team and I have been working hard over the past few weeks, and we’ve been able to put into practice what we’ve been working on,” Eala said in a press conference.
Eala achieved her highest ranking of 29th on March 16, making her the highest-ranked Filipino in WTA history.
In her opening-round victory, she showcased her unwavering focus, resilience, and determination, bouncing back from a second-set loss to beat her Polish opponent, who entered the tournament world-ranked No. 45th.
“My goal is to do well, hopefully pass a couple of rounds. I haven’t passed the second round in a grand slam. So that would be nice. It’s a slam, everybody there, so am I. Everybody wants to win, so I just want to go and give my best,” she said. (PNA)
