ALEXANDRA Eala climbed to a new career-high No. 18 in the latest WTA singles rankings released Monday, further strengthening her position among the world’s top players ahead of the 2026 US Open.
The 21-year-old Filipina tennis sensation moved up two places following a strong stretch on the North American hard-court swing.
Eala first broke into the WTA top 20 after capturing her maiden WTA 500 title at the Mubadala DC Open, where she defeated Jessica Pegula in the final.
She followed that breakthrough with a round of 16 finish at the Canadian Open before reaching the round of 32 at the Cincinnati Open. Her Cincinnati campaign ended with a three-set loss to American Amanda Anisimova.
The latest ranking rise puts Eala in a favorable position to earn another seeding at a Grand Slam.
She made history at Wimbledon earlier this year as the first Filipino to receive a singles seeding at a Grand Slam. Eala entered the tournament as the No. 29 seed and went on to reach the fourth round.
The new career-high ranking comes as Eala prepares for another major appearance at the US Open, where she is expected to be among the seeded players once the draw is finalized.
Eala has already begun preparations in New York, taking to the practice courts at Arthur Ashe Stadium ahead of the tournament.
Eala’s continued rise adds another milestone to a breakthrough 2026 season that has seen her win two titles, make deep runs in major tournaments and establish herself as one of the fastest-rising players on the WTA Tour. (Adrian Co)
