By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala returned to the Top 50 of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings Tuesday, Sept. 13, following her historic feat in the US Open Girls Singles over the weekend.
Eala, 17, jumped 132 notches from No. 167 to No. 35 this week after gaining 1000 ITF points in her Grand Slam victory.
In October 2020, the charming Eala reached as high as No. 2 but she eventually faded as she concentrated on competing in the women’s circuit since 2021.
The US Open was Eala’s first juniors tournament since the Orange Bowl in Florida in December last year where she finished in the second round.
Eala’s US Open feat made her the first Filipino campaigner to win a Grand Slam singles title. She has already won two Grand Slam Junior Doubles crowns – at the 2020 Australian Open and the 2021 French Open.
In the women’s circuit, she is currently ranked No. 288.
