Just weeks after crashing into the top 1000 of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) world rankings, Alex Eala leaped into another career-high on Tuesday, February 23.

The Filipina teen tennis sensation jumped 140 places to rank world No. 763, surpassing her previous position of No. 942 at the start of February 2021.

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar kicked off the year by participating in 4 straight pro tournaments as part of her goal to make waves in the women’s circuit. (WATCH: How Alex Eala turned into a PH teen tennis sensation)

Eala blitzed to her maiden pro title right on her home court in the first leg of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Rafael Nadal Academy World Tennis Tour last January 24.

She pulled off big upsets over ITF women’s singles No. 2 and the event’s top seed Seone Mendez in the 2nd round, and the tournament No. 5 Carole Monnet of France in the quarterfinals.

Eala finally clinched the title when she defeated 28-year-old hometown bet Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in the finals.

The 15-year-old then finished in the quarterfinals in the last two legs of the world tour and immediately traveled to Grenoble, France for a $25,000 tournament where she also nailed her first last-8 berth in that event level.

After kicking off the 2020 season with her maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne, the 15-year-old tennis star became the Philippines’ first junior Grand Slam semifinalist in 35 years in the Roland Garros girls singles tournament. – Rappler.com