Filipina star Alexandra Eala burst onto the WTA Tour this year following her superb run to the Miami Open semi-finals.
At the event, Eala defeated Madison Keys, Paula Badosa and Iga Swiatek on her way to the semi-finals before losing to Jessica Pegula.
Thereafter, the 20-year-old continued to impress, winning her first WTA title in Guadalajara and becoming the first player from the Philippines to break into the WTA top 50.
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
Following her efforts, Eala was nominated for the 2025 WTA Newcomer of the Year award.
The 20-year-old finished 2025 on a high note, becoming the first player from the Phillipines since 1999 to win the Women’s Singles gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games.
The youngster, a popular figure among tennis fans, will head into the 2026 season full of confidence.
Alexandra Eala signs up for the Kooyong Classic
Alexandra Eala’s final preparations for the Australian Open will take place at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, Australia.
The exhibition event, taking place from January 13 to 15, was last won by Mirra Andreeva and Jannik Sinner in 2024 [the tournament did not take place this year].
This year, Eala will compete against Daniela Hantuchova [guest appearance], Donna Vekic and Priscilla Hon for the title. Eala, at world number 53, is the highest-ranking participant.
On the men’s side, there are a number of high-profile names participating. Alexander Bublik, Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe have all signed up to the event.
Learner Tien, the 2025 Next Gen Finals champion, is also set to participate.
What could stop Alexandra Eala from finishing 2026 inside the top 20?
Eala, who is also set to play in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open, will hope to start the year on a positive note in Melbourne before participating in the first major tournament of the year.
Will Eala make a deep run at the Australian Open?
Eala will be hoping for a favourable draw at the 2026 Australian Open.
This is because the Filipina, at world number 53, is not a seeded player for the event. This means she could draw anyone in the main draw, whether it be world number one Aryna Sabalenka or a qualifier.
This year, Eala failed to qualify for the Australian Open main draw. The 20-year-old lost to Croatia’s Jana Fett in the first round of qualifying, 7-5, 6-2.
Eala’s rise has been remarkable, and one can only hope that she continues to prove any doubters wrong in 2026.
