Alex Eala, the Filipina tennis star, began her 2025 push for a higher WTA ranking with an overwhelming triumph in the Canberra International Women’s Singles, just as she had predicted.
Eala is marching head on towards 2025, as she advances to the semifinals of her year-end competition that started on December 29, 2024, defeating Australia’s Taylah Preston, rated WTA No. 170, 4-6, 6-2, and 6-1 today.
Photo Courtesy: @alex.eala | Instagram
Despite losing the first set to her Australian opponent, the Filipina star went on to win the match, booking a ticket to the semis and continue her campaign by dominating the second and third rounds.
Aside from this game, Eala has demonstrated her maturity throughout the competition, not only by winning, but also by overwhelming any opponent that stands in her way of attaining her 2025 goals.
Filipina Dominance
Eala has dominated the tournament since it began. She advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Netherlands’ Arianne Hartono 6-3, 6-3 in their Round of 16 match yesterday, January 1.
The 19-year-old Filipina sensation started the competition with a WTA ranking of 147th, while Hartono was 165th. Eala defeated Austria’s Sinja Kraus 6-2, 6-4 in her debut appearance in the main draw, Round of 32.
Meanwhile, in the Canberra International qualifiers, Eala defeated Australia-represent Catherine Aulia and Alana Subasic, winning 6-1, 6-2 and 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.
The 2025 Goal
Eala recently had an interview in which she expressed her satisfaction with her 2024 performance, which resulted in her highest ranking to date. However, striving for a higher WTA ranking in 2025 would not harm either.
Photo Courtesy: @alex.eala | Instagram
“You have to be happy. I do think that I passed a lot of milestones this year. There are definitely moments that I think I was so close to achieving more and hindi lang nangyari,” Eala told One PH.
“This year, l’ve been so close. In the past three Grand Slams, I’ve come so close and ‘yan ‘yung sinasabi ko kanina–so close but hindi pa nangyayari.”
“Ranking-wise, I’d like to get close to 100.” Besides securing a higher ranking, she also wants to bring home at least one title in 2025, “There’s no particular title, but l’d preferably like to win at least one per year.”
In a separate interview, Eala emphasized the significance of working hard to improve her conditioning this year if she wants to win a title and climb the rankings.
Meanwhile, the semi finals are scheduled on Saturday, January 4, with her opponent yet to be determined. Once her Canberra campaign is over, Eala will be on track to qualify for the Australian Open on January 6.
