Alex Eala climbs to career-high World No. 53, faces Claire Liu in Guangzhou opener

Alex Eala’s steady ascent in the world tennis rankings continues to gain momentum, as the 20-year-old Filipina ace achieved a new career milestone ahead of her latest campaign in China.

Now ranked world No. 53 — her highest-ever placement — Eala surpassed her previous best of No. 54, achieved just two weeks earlier. 

The rise marks another chapter in her remarkable year, one that has seen her break barriers for Philippine tennis and inch closer to the elusive Top 50 of the WTA rankings — a space dominated by the sport’s global elite.

Eala’s next challenge awaits at the Guangzhou Open, where she returns to China for the second time in a month, looking to build on her upward trajectory.

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Alex Eala battles WTA #305 Claire Liu on the R32 of the Guangzhou Open.

The 25-year old American sports a 2025 W/L record of 20/16 while she reached a career-high of #52 in January 2023.

The two play center court on Oct. 21 (not before 3pm)

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— Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) October 20, 2025

She opens her campaign against American qualifier Claire Liu in a Round of 32 showdown scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, at 4:10 p.m. (PH Time).

Seeded fourth in the tournament, the left-handed Filipina will look to set the tone early and advance to the Round of 16 in her first-ever encounter with the 25-year-old Liu, who fought her way into the main draw through the qualifiers.

Eala was also slated to make her doubles debut alongside Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok, facing the British-Chinese tandem of Emily Appleton and Qianhui Tang. However, the match was postponed to Wednesday due to scheduling adjustments.

The rising star last saw action at the Japan Open, where she bowed out in the opening round to Czech prodigy and eventual finalist Tereza Valentova, 1–6, 2–6. Despite the early exit, Eala’s ranking climb underscores her growing consistency and resilience on the WTA circuit.

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