A Wild Rollercoaster to the Top 17
From No. 50 to No. 17 in a single season
Born in the Philippines, Alex Eala is now ranked 17 in women's tennis. At just 21 years old, Eala won her first WTA title, taking home a prize of $252,000. At her last completed tournament, the Toronto National Bank Open, she didn't take the overall prize but still walked away with $89,000 in prize money.
The journey to this spot has been a wild rollercoaster. At the beginning of the year she was ranked 50 — and has since climbed all the way to No. 17.
The Team Behind Her
Coaching, fitness, and family
Alex Eala's coach is Joan Bosch, from the same academy where Eala trained — the Rafa Nadal Academy. For her fitness routine, she relies on Lluc Bauza. And with her family support system, Michael and Rachelle Eala, at her side every step of the way, Eala's game keeps getting sharper with every swing.
Her last doubles appearance came alongside Venus Williams, a world star who was reportedly deeply impressed with Eala's drive and performance. Williams has since noted she'd like to see Eala play alongside her sister, Serena Williams — an observation Venus made during their last press conference together.
Eala devotes most of her time to tennis, traveling back to the Philippines when she can. Her home base remains the capital, Manila.
Cincinnati Open: Round of 32
A dominant win, delayed by weather and an opponent's injury
Eala is currently in the Round of 32 at the Cincinnati Open. Her last match was a dominant win — her opponent, Elena-Gabriela Rus, withdrew due to medical issues. The match had also been delayed by weather before Rus withdrew due to an injury suffered during play.
The Statement Wins
Beating the top of the world rankings
Some of Eala's best performances have come against the very top of the sport. She won in dominating fashion over Iga Swiatek, the world's third-seeded player, 7-6, 6-2. She also defeated Zheng Qinwen, ranked No. 6, by a score of 6-3, 6-4 — and secured a win over world No. 4 Coco Gauff, 6-2, 2-0 (retired).
Ranked opponents defeated
Bar length reflects how high each opponent was ranked at the time — the longer the bar, the tougher the win.
The Bosch Partnership
From No. 213 to the elite tier
Joan Bosch joined Alex Eala's team back in 2023, when Alex turned 18 — at which point she was ranked 213 in the world, as of the beginning of January 2023. Bosch had actually watched over Eala from age 13 to 18 before taking over as full-time coach, leaving the academy to focus on her development entirely.
Her coach has made major adjustments that appear to be paying off. Mental fortitude is the main focus, with instructions to stay with every ball, and Bosch lets her play with independence on the court. The two also work primarily on Eala's serve.
A First for Philippine Tennis
History made, a nation watching
The full-time partnership has paid off. The transformation from a No. 200-tier ranking to an elite world ranking of No. 17 makes Eala the first Filipina in tennis history to reach this level. As a result, the Filipino community has rallied behind her, watching her every match.