Lance Joseph Martinez

LIST: Alex Eala’s Historic Milestones in Tennis So Far

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<p>Just yesterday, Filipino tennis superstar <strong>Alex Eala</strong> etched her name in history once again after clinching the very first <strong>WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) </strong>crown of her blossoming career.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DORvp3HASkv/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A702531.0000000001%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>In a thrilling showdown in <strong>Mexico</strong>, the 20-year-old star pulled off an amazing comeback, rallying from a shaky start to defeat <strong>Hungary’s Panna Udvardy</strong>, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, and secure the prestigious <strong>WTA 125</strong> title at the<strong> 2025 Guadalajara 125 Open </strong>in Grandstand Caliente.</p><p>Eala’s triumph is more than just personal glory—it’s a groundbreaking feat for the Philippines as well, marking the country’s first-ever WTA title in tennis.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757302828524Metro.Style Alex Eala 2025 Guadalajara 125 Open.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @alex.eala</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>To celebrate this milestone,<strong> </strong>here’s a look back at the historic achievements Alex has already notched on her journey as one of the country’s brightest sports icons.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>First Filipina Junior Grand Slam Champion (2022)<br/></strong></div><p>Back in 2022, a 17-year-old Alex Eala made waves on the global stage as she became the first Filipina to capture a junior Grand Slam singles crown. </p><p>The then-rising star clinched the historic feat at the <strong>US Open</strong>, where she overpowered No. 2 seed <strong>Lucie Havlíčková </strong>of the <strong>Czech Republic</strong> in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, to secure the coveted title.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiV2JTpvj1g/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A915674%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="608" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>First Filipino to Beat Three Grand Slam Champions in One Tournament (2025)<br/></strong></div><p>Alex’s fairy-tale run at the <strong>2025 Miami Open</strong> was nothing short of spectacular, as the Filipina tennis ace took down not just one, but three Grand Slam champions before her semifinal exit at the hands of <strong>Jessica Pegula.</strong></p><p>Her streak began in the Round of 64, where she stunned <strong>2017 French Open</strong> titlist and world No. 25 <strong>Jelena Ostapenko </strong>in a tight 7-6, 7-5 clash.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FWTA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0a25eJ3UffCHKFiBY7rDupa2Ji84guvzmyAAC2qFVvx1C15p2h5UhufDyDfccfNCJl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="497" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>Eala then followed it up with an even bigger upset in the Round of 32, toppling world No. 5 <strong>Madison Keys</strong>, the reigning <strong>Australian Open champion</strong>, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Keys had just recently captured her maiden Grand Slam crown at Melbourne Park in January, dethroning world No. 1 <strong>Aryna Sabalenka</strong> in the final.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FWTA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid022QYxMTyPfo9De5ouZNF7pXoCNaGKFbUFTUDjpreoDtb2D3ro1Nvm2bGq4MCqPm6Wl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="497" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>But perhaps the highlight of her Miami campaign came in the quarterfinals, where Eala scored a career-defining win over none other than world No. 2 <strong>Iga Świątek.</strong> The Polish superstar, a six-time Grand Slam champion with four <strong></strong>French Open trophies, a Wimbledon crown, and a US Open<strong></strong> title to her name, was cut down by the Filipina sensation in a 6-2, 7-5 shocker.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FWTA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02ucxTpbNNZ59KLJTg933xGf8auNdXwZ4nYLEXujH1ECbdMbho1zuvZy2ydrdrbA6kl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="497" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>First Filipina to Break Into the WTA Top 100 (2025)<br/></strong></div><p>Fresh off her <strong>Miami Open</strong> semifinal run, Alex soared from world No. 140 to No. 75 in the WTA rankings—her <strong>Top 100</strong> debut and a historic first for Philippine women’s tennis since the rankings began in 1975.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DH3bC1DtkRX/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A976217%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>First Filipina to Reach a WTA Final (2025)<br/></strong></div><p>In June 2025, Alex once again etched her name in history books, becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA final.</p><p>The 20-year-old achieved the feat at the<strong> Eastbourne Open </strong>after grinding out a hard-fought 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 semifinal victory over <strong>France’s</strong> <strong>Varvara Gracheva</strong>.<strong></strong></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757303117762Metro.Style Alex Eala.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @alex.eala</span></span></span></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>First Filipina to Win a Grand Slam Main Draw Match (2025)<br/></strong></div><p>In August 2025, Alex notched another historic milestone, this time on tennis’ biggest stage.</p><p>The Filipina ace scored her <a href="https://metro.style/metro-style/people/2025/8/25/-be-ambitious-dream-big-with-this-mindset-alex-eala-makes-history-at-the-2025-us-open-1454">first-ever Grand Slam main draw victory</a> at the <strong>US Open</strong>, pulling off a gutsy third-set comeback to upset 14th seed <strong>C</strong><strong>lara Tauson</strong>, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), in the opening round.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757304190210Metro.Style Alex Eala .jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @alex.eala</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>What lies ahead for Alex Eala may still be uncertain, but one thing is certain—she’s well on her way to achieving greater success.</p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>@alex.eala</strong></p>

<p>Just yesterday, Filipino tennis superstar Alex Eala etched her name in history once again after clinching the very first WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) crown of her blossoming career.</p>

Just yesterday, Filipino tennis superstar Alex Eala etched her name in history once again after clinching the very first WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) crown of her blossoming career.

List: Alex Eala’s Historic Milestones in Tennis So Far

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List: Alex Eala’s Historic Milestones in Tennis So Far

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published September 08, 2025 12:30 PM PHT

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Updated September 08, 2025 12:31 PM PHT

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Alex Eala

Women’s Tennis Association

2025 Guadalajara 125 Open

Tennis

Sports

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