Filipina teen tennis champion Alex Eala achieved her biggest victory on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour by sweeping both singles and doubles titles at the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. With these victories, Eala’s world ranking soared to No. 143.
Alex Eala claimed the Singles and Doubles titles at the W100-level Women’s Araba World Tennis Tour on July 20 and 21, 2024.
The 19-year-old from the Philippines secured her milestone pro doubles title with partner Estelle Cascino of France, defeating Lia Karatancheva of Bulgaria and Diana Marcinkevica of Latvia, 6-3, 2-6, 10-4.
Eala was emotional after completing her tournament sweep with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva of Andorra at the Peña Vitoriana Tenis Club.
“This win means the world to me, it even made me ugly cry,” Eala posted on social media. “I am so proud because this represents the culmination of so much hard work. Securing my biggest titles yet in both singles and doubles is a fairytale finish, and I’m overwhelmed with emotion. This will always have a special place in my heart, and I leave here with a pocket full of great memories and the will to work harder.”
Since turning professional in 2020, the 2022 US Open Girls champion has showcased her best form. Alex Eala’s five pro singles victories include:
- W15 Manacor
- W25 Chiang Rai
- W25 Yecla
- W25 Roehampton
- W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Her three pro doubles titles, all won this year, are:
- W50 Pune
- W75 Croissy-Beaubourg
- W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz
The ITF highlighted Alex Eala’s W100 wins in an article, noting how the teen champion joined the pro league through the ITF pathway as the No. 2-ranked junior player.
“The left-hander has proceeded to make her mark within the professional ranks – only narrowly falling in the final round of qualifying at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon this summer – and now delivering a significant ITF singles title that will further boost her trajectory towards the higher levels of the sport,” the ITF noted.
WATCH Alex Eala’s winning moments at the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz here:
The Philippines’ Alex Eala won the Women’s Singles and Doubles at the @ITFTennis W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. The 19-year-old notched her milestone pro Doubles title with partner Estelle Cascino of France before taking the Singles crown. Report via @GoodNewsPinas_ @ITFW100VG https://t.co/NjxOCC61Rz
— Angie Quadra Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) July 23, 2024
The Araba website praised Alex Eala for displaying her best: “Throughout the tournament, the student of the Rafa Nadal Academy was showing her excellent physical and mental capacity to overcome games. Her ability for the long ball, her powerful drive volleys, and her excellent two-handed backhand have been indispensable tools to take a title that will surely make her climb in the WTA ranking.”
The latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) World Ranking, released on July 22, 2024, saw Alex Eala rise 12 notches from her pre-tournament spot at No. 155 to World No. 143.
BREAKING: Following her twin victories at the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain, Alex Eala broke into the Top 150 of the Women’s Tennis Association Rankings and is now the World No. 143. Report via @GoodNewsPinas_ https://t.co/6vboEXpego pic.twitter.com/2YlRoBFb60
— Angie Quadra Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) July 23, 2024
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