Alex Eala has made history once again, becoming the highest-ranked women’s singles player from southeast Asia after climbing to a career-high World No.18 in the latest WTA rankings.

The Filipina tennis star moved up two spots from No.20, reaching 2,281 ranking points ahead of the US Open. The new ranking surpasses the previous Southeast Asian record of No. 19, jointly held by Indonesia’s Yayuk Basuki and Thailand’s Tamrine Tanasugarn.

Eala’s latest milestone comes after an impressive run on the North American hard-count swing. She captured her first WTA Tour-level-singles title at the Mubadala DC open, where she defeated American star Jessica Pegula in the final. 

She followed that breakthrough with a Round of 16 appearance at the Canadian open before reaching the Round of 32 at the Cincinnati Open.

The 21-year-old has continued to break new ground throughout 2026. Earlier this season, Eala became the first Filipino to crack the WTA Top 30, before eventually breaking into the Top 20 after her title ruin in Washington, D.C.

Her current World No.18 ranking now places her head of two southeast Asian tennis legends. Basuki reached No. 19 in October 1997, while Tansaugarn matched that ranking in May 2002.

Eala will now turn her attention to the US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the season, where she is expected to receive a seeding in the women’s singles draw. She is also set to compete in mixed doubles alongside Canadian Felix Auger-Aliasime

From breaking into the Top 50 to becoming Southeast Asia’s highest-ranked women’s singles player, Eala’s rapid rise continues to put Philippine tennis on the global stage.

And with the US open just around the corner, another historic chapter  could be awaiting for the Filipina tennis star.

PHOTOS: ALEX EALA (via Facebook)