Alex Eala will be checking off another career milestone in sensational fashion.

The 15-year-old Filipina netter is set to make her women’s $60,000 tournament debut in Bellinzona, Switzerland, with a career-high Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking of No. 716.

Eala will be kicking off the clay season on Tuesday, April 6, against WTA world No. 323 Margot Yerolymos of France, who entered the tournament as a lucky loser from the qualifying draw.

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar was coming off her maiden WTA 1000 tournament in the 2021 Miami Open, where she was booted out in the opening round of the qualifiers.

Eala was able to qualify for the main draw of the Bellinzona event via the junior exempt program.

This is where the top-ranked juniors players are allotted a number of pro tournament spots within the year.

Since Eala finished with a yearend world No. 3 ranking in the juniors circuit, she is allowed to join up to three $25,000 and two $60,000 events this 2021.

After opening 2021 with a maiden pro title, Eala has joined two $25,000 tournaments.

Eala’s semifinals finish in the 2020 French Open girls singles event bannered last year’s clay season, which came after she won the 2020 Australian Open juniors doubles title with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho. – Rappler.com