ALEX M. Eala netted a new career-high ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), barging inside the Top 400 for the first time after a strong campaign in Thailand.
From a previous best at 411th last week, Ms. Eala jumped 17 notches at No. 395 this week in steady WTA ascend after starting behind Top 1600 last year.
Ms. Eala’s previous high was at No. 505 last August.
The 16-year-old Filipina ace racked up the ladder after an impressive W25 Chiang Rai stint in Thailand highlighted by a championship in the first leg and a quarterfinal finish in the second leg.
That was Ms. Eala’s second pro title after winning the W15 Manacor last year to jumpstart her promising career in the women’s circuit.
Ms. Eala also came off a main draw stint in the Miami Open and a pair of Round-of-16 finishes in France.
She also earned a wild card berth in the Madrid Open but got an early boot against WTA No. 58 Anna Bondar of Hungary in the qualifying round on Wednesday, 6-0, 6-0.
Ms. Eala’s series of international events is part of her preparations for her debut in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month after being named in the stacked Philippine tennis team. — John Bryan Ulanday