Alex Eala reaches career-high WTA No. 31 after Dubai breakthrough, sets sights on Sunshine Double 

Momentum—not just results—is beginning to define Alexandra Eala’s 2026 season. After navigating a demanding early-year schedule across multiple continents, the 20-year-old Filipina star finally found her rhythm in Dubai, translating steady progress into a breakthrough rankings leap in the latest Women’s Tennis Association standings.

Eala surged 16 spots to a new career-high World No. 31 following a statement run at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a tournament that showcased both her composure and growing ability to challenge elite competition.

Her campaign unfolded like a measuring stick for her rapid development. Eala opened with a confident win over Hailey Baptiste before dismantling veteran Sorana Cîrstea. The defining moment came in the Round of 16, where she stunned world No. 7 Jasmine Paolini to secure a quarterfinal berth—her best finish yet at the WTA 1000 level.

Her run ended against world No. 4 Coco Gauff, but the loss did little to overshadow the bigger picture: Eala had turned a mid-season ranking dip into one of the most significant climbs of the week.

Just weeks earlier, she had slipped to No. 47 after holding a previous career-best No. 40 ranking. Dubai became the pivot point, highlighting her ability to adjust quickly against deeper fields and higher-ranked opponents.

While Eala headlined the rankings surge, Indonesia’s Janice Tjen also made notable progress inside the Top 50, climbing to No. 36 after a string of consistent finishes. 

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CAREER HIGH FOR ALEX EALA!

The Filipina tennis star is now ranked #31 by the WTA with 1432 points

Screengrab WTA Site pic.twitter.com/anKGW3fUdN

— Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) February 23, 2026

The Dubai breakthrough also brought clarity to Eala’s 2026 campaign structure. She has already competed in six tournaments this season—the ASB Classic, the Australian Open, the Philippine Women’s Open, the Abu Dhabi Open, the Qatar Open, and the Dubai Tennis Championships—building match toughness across surfaces and conditions.

Her quarterfinal finish in Dubai now stands as her strongest result at the WTA 1000 tier, following last season’s semifinal breakthrough at the Miami Open, a run that first signaled her readiness for the sport’s biggest stages.

Instead of slowing down, Eala is accelerating. Fresh off her Middle East swing, she immediately traveled to the United States to prepare for the Sunshine Double—starting with the BNP Paribas Open and followed by another appearance in Miami.

With a career-high ranking, rising confidence, and an expanding list of top-level wins, Eala enters the next stretch of the season no longer as a surprise contender—but as a player increasingly expected to deliver.

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