Alexandra Eala is one of the WTA Tour’s top young prospects, drawing widespread acclaim for her rise to prominence in 2025.
Throughout last year, the Filipino continued to establish herself as a threat wherever she went, demolishing national records from her home country with alarming ease.
Already, at just 20 years old, Alexandra Eala is on track to be one of the greatest tennis players that the Philippines has ever produced.
The backing of an entire nation certainly helps build her hype, as well as Rafael Nadal’s huge praise for Eala.
And yet, there is perhaps another youngster on tour, who is just 18 years old, who might be getting overlooked because of Eala.
Iva Jovic could be a bigger threat than Alexandra Eala in 2026
Ironically, it’s the player Eala has been playing doubles with over the past week: Iva Jovic.
Just 18 years old, this American talent is already ranked 30th in the world, nearly 20 places above Eala, with both having reached the semi-finals of the ongoing ASB Classic.
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And, in 2025, she appeared in the main draw of all four Grand Slam tournaments for the first time in her career, claiming wins in Melbourne, Paris and New York.
However, what truly sets Jovic apart from Eala is the fact that she has claimed her maiden elite-level title, having won the WTA 500 tournament in Guadalajara.
Alexandra Eala is also destined for great things in 2026
Jovic’s undeniable and arguably undervalued talents should not detract from the incredible player that Eala already is, though.
After all, she too has come so close to claiming her first title on the WTA Tour, having lost the final of the Eastbourne Open to Maya Joint despite having four championship points
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
Had she converted one of them, Eala would have become the first Filipina to capture a WTA Tour title.
History repeated itself in today’s ASB Classic match too, where she once again blew a match point before conspiring to lose.
It’d be foolish to bet against her accomplishing this feat in 2026, as she and Jovic seek to take over the women’s game and usurp the established elite.
