Alex Eala holds her runner-up trophy after a hard-fought final at the 2025 Lexus Eastbourne Open. The 20-year-old Filipina made history as the first from the Philippines to reach a WTA Tour final, earning a career-high world ranking of No. 56 ahead of her Wimbledon debut. (Photo Source @alex.eala instagram)
Set to face defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, Eala rises to a career-high WTA ranking of No. 56
WIMBLEDON, England – Filipino tennis player Alexandra “Alex” Eala will make her main draw debut at Wimbledon on Tuesday, July 1, in a first-round match against defending champion Barbora Krejcikova.
The 20-year-old from Quezon City becomes the first Filipina to compete in the women’s singles main draw at Wimbledon in the Open Era.
Eala enters the tournament ranked No. 56 in the world, a career high confirmed by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in its June 30 rankings. It is the highest singles ranking ever achieved by a Filipino player.
Eala’s rise into the top 60 follows a strong start to her 2025 season. In March, she reached the semifinals of the Miami Open, becoming the first Filipino to advance that far in a WTA 1000 event. During that run, she posted victories over Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys (then ranked No. 5), and Iga Świątek (then ranked No. 2).
Last week, Eala reached her first WTA Tour final at the Lexus Eastbourne Open. After advancing through the qualifying rounds, she defeated multiple higher-ranked opponents to reach the championship match, where she held four match points before falling to Australia’s Maya Joint in a third-set tiebreak. The result earned her 180 WTA points and propelled her to No. 56.
Following her Eastbourne run, the Rafa Nadal Academy—where Eala has trained since age 13—posted a message of support on Instagram:
“The first of many finals, @alex.eala! We are REALLY PROUD OF YOU!”
The academy’s director, Toni Nadal, has previously praised Eala’s discipline and competitiveness, and her development continues to draw attention in international tennis circles. Eala also received support earlier this season from Rafael Nadal himself, who congratulated her after her wins in Miami. “Congratulations Alex! Such a great victory for you and for the Philippines,” Nadal wrote in a social media post.
Eala’s first-round opponent, Krejcikova, is a former world No. 2 and the 2024 Wimbledon champion. She withdrew from Eastbourne with a minor thigh strain but returns to defend her title at the All England Club.
Eala’s match against Krejcikova is scheduled on Centre Court. Regardless of the outcome, she has already made history by reaching this stage. Wimbledon will be her first Grand Slam main draw appearance on grass. She remains the highest-ranked Filipina in WTA history and one of Southeast Asia’s top tennis prospects.
Well done