BEHIND a deep run in Auckland, New Zealand, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala surged to what is by far her highest rankings in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

The latest WTA rankings released on Monday, Jan. 12, showed Eala move to No. 49, climbing four spots from her previous ranking last week.

The huge leap was powered by Eala’s semifinal run in the ASB Classic. She and American partner Iva Jovic also reached the second round of the doubles event that saw them conquer multi-titled Venus Williams and Elina Svitolina in the opening phase.

“Til my heart stops. So close yet so far. Thank you Auckland for the warmest hospitality to start the year,” Eala said in a social media post after her semifinal loss to China’s Wang Xinyu in the singles competition.

Eala will next see action at the Kooyong Classic, which is slated Jan. 13 to 15 in Melbourne.

From Kooyong Classic, the 20-year-old Eala will have her much-awaited main draw debut in the Australian Open.(CCM)

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• #Alex Eala
• #Filipina Athlete
• #Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)
• #WTA Rankings
• #No 49
• #Auckland
• #New Zealand
• #ASB Classic
• #Iva Jovic
• #Venus Williams
• #Elina Svitolina
• #Wang Xinyu
• #Singles
• #Doubles
• #Kooyong Classic
• #Melbourne
• #Australian Open
• #Tennis Tournamen