Alexandra Eala
Full name | Alexandra Maniego Eala | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ITF name | Alexandra Eala | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country (sports) | Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Quezon City, Philippines | 23 May 2005|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turned pro | March 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plays | Left (two-handed backhand) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prize money | US$ 450,995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Singles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 149–89 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 5 ITF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 143 (22 July 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current ranking | No. 159 (4 November 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam singles results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | Q1 (2023, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French Open | Q3 (2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | Q3 (2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
US Open | Q3 (2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 37–30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 3 ITF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 192 (12 August 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current ranking | No. 237 (4 November 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Last updated on: 4 November 2024. |
Alexandra Maniego Eala (born May 23, 2005) is a Filipina professional tennis player.[1] She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 143, by the WTA, achieved on 22 July 2024. She is the highest-ranked Filipino female singles player in WTA Tour history, surpassing Maricris Gentz, who peaked at No. 284 on 18 October 1999.[2]
Eala was the No. 2 ranked ITF junior on 6 October 2020.[3] Eala won her first junior singles title at the 2022 US Open, making her the first Filipino player to win a junior Grand Slam singles title.
Personal life
[edit]Her mother Rosemarie "Rizza" Maniego-Eala is a 1985 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist in the 100-meter backstroke and currently serves as the chief financial officer of Globe Telecom. She is the niece of Philippine Sports Commission chairperson and former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala. Her brother, Michael (Miko), plays tennis for the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions.[4] She has been a student of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor (Mallorca, Spain), since she was 12 years old.[5]
Career
[edit]Juniors
[edit]Grand Slam performance - singles:
- Australian Open: 3R (2020)
- French Open: SF (2020)
- Wimbledon: 2R (2021)
- US Open: W (2022)
Grand Slam performance - doubles:
- Australian Open: W (2020)
- French Open: W (2021)
- Wimbledon: 2R (2021)
- US Open: SF (2021)
2018
[edit]At the age of 12, Eala won the 2018 Les Petit As 14-and-under tournament, beating Linda Nosková in the finals.[6] She made her junior Grand Slam debut at the 2019 US Open.[7] She was named the 2019 Milo Junior Athlete of the Year.[8]
2020: First junior doubles title
[edit]Eala won the 2020 Australian girls' doubles event, partnering Priska Madelyn Nugroho. They defeated Živa Falkner and Matilda Mutavdzic in the final.[9][10][11]
Eala peaked in the junior rankings at No. 2, after reaching the semifinals at the 2020 French Open girls' singles competition.[12]
2021: Second junior doubles title
[edit]Eala paid tribute to her roots on Independence Day following another major triumph, this time on the clay court in Paris. Eala and her Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva captured the French Open girls' doubles title Saturday. They were the top seeds in the tournament, won after knocking out Maria Bondarenko of Russia and Amarissa Kiara Tóth of Hungary, 6–0, 7–5, in the final.[13][14][15]
2022: First junior Grand Slam singles title
[edit]On 11 September, Eala became the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles championship and the only Filipino with multiple junior Grand Slam titles. She defeated the No. 2 seed, Lucie Havlíčková of the Czech Republic, in the girls' singles final of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.[16][17]
Professional
[edit]2020-2021: First ITF title & WTA debut
[edit]On 4 March 2020, Eala made her debut on the ITF Women's Circuit, as she played in the $15k event at Monastir, Tunisia, where she won her first professional match.[18]
In January 2021, she leaped to the top 1,000 in the WTA rankings, after winning the title at the first leg of the $15k Manacor event in Spain.[19]
She received a wildcard into the qualifying draw of the Miami Open where she lost to Viktória Kužmová in three sets in the first round.[20]
Eala made her first ITF doubles final at the $25k Platja d'Aro in Spain, playing with Oksana Selekhmeteva. They lost to Lithuania's Justina Mikulskytė and Romanian Oana Georgeta Simion, 3–6, 5–7.[21]
In August 2021, she made her WTA Tour main-draw debut at the 2021 Winners Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, after receiving a wildcard. In her first match, she defeated Paula Ormaechea in straight sets.[22] She lost in the second round to Mayar Sherif, also in straight sets.[23]
2022-2024: WTA 1000, major and top 200 debuts and first win
[edit]She received a wildcard making her WTA 1000 debut at the 2022 Miami Open, losing to Madison Brengle in the first round.[24]
In 2023, Eala made her debut in the qualifying draw of the Australian Open but she lost her first match to Misaki Doi in three sets.[25] She qualified for the 2023 Thailand Open but lost in the first round to sixth seed Tatjana Maria.[26]
She received wildcards for the main draw at the 2023 Miami Open[27] and at the 2023 Madrid Open. She entered the top 200 on 28 August 2023 and reached a new career-high ranking of world No. 191 on 18 September 2023.[28] At the Asian Games, she won two bronze medals, one in the women's singles and the second in the mixed doubles with Francis Alcantara.[29]
She received wildcards for the qualifying draw at the 2024 Miami Open, and for the main draw at the Madrid Open.[30] During the 2024 Miami Open, she stunned former world No. 5, Sara Errani, during the first round of qualifying winning in straight sets.[31] However, in the second round of qualifying, she suffered cramps and lost to Emiliana Arango.[32] At the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open, she recorded her first WTA 1000 win over Lesia Tsurenko.[33] She then lost in three sets against 27th seed Sorana Cirstea.[34]
Eala entered the qualifying rounds of the 2024 French Open where she beat Ma Yexin of China and Taylah Preston of Australia to reach the final round, where she lost in another three-set match to Julia Riera of Argentina.[35] For the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, she entered the qualifying rounds and reached the final qualifying match where she lost to eventual quarterfinalist Lulu Sun.[36]
After Wimbledon, Eala entered the Open Araba en Femenino, a W100 tournament, where she triumphed in both singles and doubles. She won the title in singles without dropping a set. In doubles, she and her partner Estelle Cascino, won their second doubles crown.[37] She reached a new career-high ranking in both singles and doubles, at 143 and 208 respectively.[37]
Eala entered the 2024 US Open qualifying rounds where she again reached the final qualifying round, losing to 20th seed Elena-Gabriela Ruse. She qualified for the main draw of the WTA 500 2024 Guadalajara Open Akron, losing in the first round to sixth seed Marie Bouzková.[38]
Sponsorships
[edit]- Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
- Globe Telecom Inc.
- Babolat
- Nike
Performance timeline
[edit]W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | P# | DNQ | A | Z# | PO | G | S | B | NMS | NTI | P | NH |
Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.
Singles
[edit]Current through the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | SR | W–L | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||
Australian Open | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
French Open | A | A | A | Q3 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Wimbledon | A | A | A | Q3 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
US Open | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
WTA 1000 | |||||||
Dubai / Qatar Open[a] | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Indian Wells Open | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Miami Open | Q1 | 1R | 1R | Q2 | 0 / 2 | 0–2 | |
Madrid Open | A | Q1 | 1R | 2R | 1 / 2 | 1–2 | |
Italian Open | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Canadian Open | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||
Cincinnati Open | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||
Wuhan Open | NH | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |||
China Open | NH | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |||
Career statistics | |||||||
Tournaments | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Career total: 5 | ||
Overall win–loss | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0 / 5 | 1–5 | ||
Year-end ranking | 529 | 219 | 205 | $64,590 |
ITF Circuit finals
[edit]Singles: 8 (5 titles, 3 runner-ups)
[edit]
|
|
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Jan 2021 | ITF Manacor, Spain | W15 | Hard | Yvonne Cavallé Reimers | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 |
Win | 2–0 | Apr 2022 | ITF Chiang Rai, Thailand | W25 | Hard | Luksika Kumkhum | 6–4, 6–2 |
Loss | 2–1 | Jun 2022 | ITF Madrid Open, Spain | W60 | Hard | Marina Bassols Ribera | 4–6, 5–7 |
Win | 3–1 | Jun 2023 | ITF Yecla, Spain | W25 | Hard | Valentina Ryser | 6–3, 7–5 |
Win | 4–1 | Aug 2023 | ITF Roehampton, United Kingdom | W25 | Hard | Arina Rodionova | 6–2, 6–3 |
Loss | 4–2 | Aug 2023 | ITF Aldershot, United Kingdom | W25 | Hard | Destanee Aiava | 6–3, 4–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 4–3 | Nov 2023 | ITF Pétange, Luxembourg | W40 | Hard (i) | Océane Dodin | 1–6, 5–7 |
Win | 5–3 | July 2024 | Open Araba en Femenino, Spain | W100 | Hard | Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva | 6–4, 6–4 |
Doubles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner–up)
[edit]
|
|
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | May 2021 | ITF Platja d'Aro, Spain | W25 | Clay | Oksana Selekhmeteva | Oana Georgeta Simion Justina Mikulskytė |
3–6, 5–7 |
Win | 1–1 | Jan 2024 | ITF Pune Open, India | W50 | Hard | Darja Semeņistaja | Naiktha Bains Fanny Stollár |
7–6(8), 6–3 |
Win | 2–1 | Mar 2024 | Open de Seine-et-Marne, France | W75 | Hard (i) | Estelle Cascino | Maia Lumsden Jessika Ponchet |
7–5, 7–6(4) |
Win | 3–1 | Jul 2024 | Open Araba en Femenino, Spain | W100 | Hard | Estelle Cascino | Lia Karatancheva Diāna Marcinkēviča |
6–3, 2–6, [10–4] |
Junior Grand Slam finals
[edit]Singles: 1 (title)
[edit]Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 2022 | US Open | Hard | Lucie Havlíčková | 6–2, 6–4 |
Doubles: 2 (2 titles)
[edit]Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 2020 | Australian Open | Hard | Priska Madelyn Nugroho | Živa Falkner Matilda Mutavdzic |
6–1, 6–2 |
Win | 2021 | French Open | Clay | Oksana Selekhmeteva | Maria Bondarenko Amarissa Kiara Tóth |
6–0, 7–5 |
ITF Junior finals
[edit]Legend |
---|
Grade A |
Grade 1 |
Grade 2 |
Grade 3 |
Grade 4 |
Grade 5 |
Singles (4–5)
[edit]Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Jul 2018 | ITF Jakarta, Indonesia | G4 | Hard | Priska Madelyn Nugroho | 2–6, 6–4, 1–6 |
Win | 1–1 | Oct 2018 | ITF Alicante, Spain | G5 | Clay | Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro | 6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 2–1 | Nov 2018 | ITF Makati City, Philippines | G4 | Clay | Dasha Plekhanova | 6–4, 6–2 |
Loss | 2–2 | Nov 2018 | ITF Manila, Philippines | G4 | Clay | Janice Tjen | 3–6, 6–2, 5–7 |
Loss | 2–3 | Jan 2019 | ITF New Delhi, India | G2 | Hard | Federica Sacco | 5–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 2–4 | Jan 2019 | ITF Kolkata, India | G2 | Clay | Mai Napatt Nirundorn | 6–2, 3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 3–4 | Sep 2019 | ITF Cape Town, South Africa | GA | Hard | Linda Fruhvirtová | 6–3, 6–3 |
Loss | 3–5 | Oct 2019 | ITF Osaka, Japan | GA | Hard | Diane Parry | 2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 4–5 | Jul 2021 | ITF Milan, Italy | GA | Clay | Nikola Bartůňková | 6–3, 6–3 |
Doubles (3–2)
[edit]Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Oct 2018 | ITF Alicante, Spain | G5 | Clay | Joelle Lilly Sophie Steur | Maria Dzemeshkevich Lily Hutchings |
6–2, 6–2 |
Loss | 1–1 | Jun 2019 | ITF Offenbach, Germany | G1 | Clay | Annerly Poulos | Selena Janicijevic Carole Monnet |
4–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 1–2 | Sep 2019 | ITF Cape Town, South Africa | G2 | Hard | Elvina Kalieva | Weronika Baszak Matilda Mutavdzic |
3–6, 6–4, [3–10] |
Win | 2–2 | Dec 2019 | ITF Plantation, United States | GA | Clay | Evialina Laskevich | Jada Bui Melodie Collard |
6–3, 6–7(3), [10–5] |
Win | 3–2 | Jul 2021 | ITF Milan, Italy | GA | Clay | Madison Sieg | Lucija Ciric Bagaric Sofia Costoulas |
6–4, 4–6, [13–11] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ The first Premier 5 event of the year has switched back and forth between the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar Ladies Open since 2009. Dubai was classified as a Premier 5 event from 2009 to 2011 before being succeeded by Doha for the 2012–2014 period. In 2015, Dubai regained its Premier 5 status while Doha was demoted to Premier status. The Premier 5 tournaments were reclassified as WTA 1000 tournaments in 2021.
References
[edit]- ^ "Alexandra Eala | Player Stats & More – WTA Official".
- ^ Mina, Rosy (September 11, 2022). "Alex Eala reigns at US Open for first major junior girls' singles title". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
- ^ "Alexandra Eala". October 12, 2020 – via www.itftennis.com.
- ^ "Michael Francis Eala Overview".
- ^ "Alex Eala". April 11, 2022.
- ^ "Lilov & Eala win at Les Petits As". tenniseurope. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ "Filipina Alex Eala makes US Open juniors debut vs tough Aussie". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 1, 2019.
- ^ "Top Juniors Honored". Business Mirror. February 22, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Alex Eala wins first juniors Grand Slam title in 2020 Australian Open". Rappler. January 31, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ "Alex Eala, Priska Nugroho sweep foes to win Australian Open crown". ESPN. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ "Tennis: Alex Eala, Indonesian partner claim Australian Open girls' doubles title". ABS-CBN. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala clinches juniors world No. 2 after French Open romp". Rappler. October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ "Alex Eala wins Grand Slam on Independence Day: 'I hope I made my contribution to the country'". Inquirer.net. June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- ^ "Alex Eala, Oksana Selekhmeteva win French Open girls' doubles title". ESPN. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala, Russia's Selekhmeteva win French Open girls' doubles title". abs-cbn. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala reigns at US Open for first major junior girls' singles title". abs-cbn.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Alexandra Eala becomes first Filipina to win a junior Grand Slam singles title at the 2022 US Open". US Open. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala to make pro debut in Tunisian tourney". Philstar. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ "Alex Eala enters top 1000 in Women's Tennis Association World Ranking". msm news. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ Reyes, Kate (March 23, 2021). "Alex Eala falls short to Slovakian foe in Miami Open qualifiers". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala, partner finish second place at W25 Spain". sports.inquirer.net. May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ "Philippines' teen champion Alex Eala wins WTA main draw debut match at Winners Open". goodnewspilipinas.com. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala absorbs tough loss to close first WTA tourney". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Early exit for Alex Eala in Miami Open debut". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Eala bows to Doi in first round of Australian Open qualifiers". BusinessWorld Online. January 9, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala crashes out of Thailand Open". Manilla Bulletin. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Erika Andreeva, Brenda Fruhvirtova awarded Miami Open wild cards". Women's Tennis Association. March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Alex Eala soars to new high in WTA rankings ahead of Asian Games". Sports Inquirer. September 20, 2023.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (September 29, 2023). "Eala, Alcantara win bronze on another slow day for Team Philippines". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "Madrid 2024: Dates, draws, prize money and everything you need to know". Women's Tennis Association. April 18, 2024.
- ^ "Alex Eala stuns former world No. 5 in Miami Open qualifiers". rapper.com. March 18, 2024.
- ^ "Eala succumbs to cramps, falls in Miami Open qualifying draw". The Philippine STAR.
- ^ "Wild card Eala defeats Tsurenko in Madrid, notches first Top 50 win". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Madrid Open: Cirstea beats wildcard Eala to move into third round". Tennis Majors. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (May 23, 2024). "Eala loses steam vs Argentine foe, falls short of French Open main draw". Philstar.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "Eala loses to New Zealander to miss out on Wimbledon". Philstar.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Board, Pdm Editorial (August 24, 2024). "[Editorial] Alex Eala's journey to the tennis world began with a single step toward a pinnacle of achievements". Philippine Daily Mirror. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Bouzkova bests wild card Eala in Guadalajara night session". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Sportspeople from Quezon City
- Living people
- 2005 births
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in girls' doubles
- Filipino female tennis players
- French Open junior champions
- Australian Open (tennis) junior champions
- Competitors at the 2021 SEA Games
- SEA Games bronze medalists for the Philippines
- SEA Games medalists in tennis
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in girls' singles
- US Open (tennis) junior champions
- Tennis players at the 2022 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2022 Asian Games
- Asian Games medalists in tennis
- Asian Games bronze medalists for the Philippines
- Filipino YouTubers