Filipina star Alexandra Eala on the importance of staying grounded and shout-outs from ‘legend’ Manny Pacquiao
Twelve months ago, an 18-year-old Alexandra Eala was ranked 170 in the world.
Competing in the Madrid Open courtesy of a wildcard, the Filipina teenager notched the first WTA 1000 main draw victory of her career by upsetting world No 41 Lesia Tsurenko. She fell to a 30th-ranked Sorana Cirstea in three sets in the second round.
This week, Eala is back on Spanish clay but in a far different position to where she was a year ago. The former US Open junior champion has rocketed up the rankings to a career-high 72 in the world, thanks to a breakthrough run at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami last month.
The talented lefty knocked out three grand slam champions – including five-time major winner Iga Swiatek – en route to the semi-finals, becoming the first Filipina in history to reach the last-four at a WTA tour-level event.
Her historic achievement made headlines across the globe and her star status continues to grow exponentially back home in the Philippines.
