Alex Eala climbs to world No. 61 after triumph in Guadalajara 125 Open

September 9 ------ Alex Eala leaped to world No. 61 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association rankings after winning her first-ever WTA 125 title. Coming from a 75th-world placement, it was a 14-spot jump for Eala after winning the Guadalajara 125 Open.

Eala, who has a career-high ranking of No. 56, defeated Hungary's Panna Udvardy in comeback fashion, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, to net the historic feat. Her recent achievement in Mexico did not come unnoticed by Tennis icon Rafael Nadal, who congratulated the Filipina tennis star's breakthrough. "Congrats, Alex Eala, on your first WTA (trophy)," the 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "I am happy and proud of what you are achieving for yourself and for the Philippines."

Eala will be seeing action again on Wednesday at the Sao Paulo Open in Brazil, where she is seeded third, just behind No. 27 Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil) and No. 82 Solana Sierra (Argentina).

Source: news.abs-cbn.com