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Alexandra Eala has been named the WTA’s grass-court Star of the Swing following an impressive stretch that has significantly elevated her season and rankings. The 21-year-old Philippin player dominated the fan vote, securing nearly 90% of the support and outpacing notable competitors including Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and runner-up Karolina Muchova.
Eala’s rise in the WTA rankings began in Birmingham, where she overcame challenging weather conditions during a rain-interrupted week to claim her second WTA 125 title. Capitalizing on this momentum, she advanced to the semifinals at the WTA 500 event in Berlin, affirming her growing form on the tour.
Alexandra Eala’s Wimbledon Run Drives Career-High WTA Ranking
Her breakthrough truly came at Wimbledon, where, seeded 29th, Eala made history as the first Philippin singles player to progress beyond the third round of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era. A standout moment was her stunning victory over the defending champion Iga Świątek on Centre Court, winning 7-6(9), 6-2. This upset, highlighted by a viral diving shot, was widely regarded as the tournament’s biggest surprise.
Although her run ended in the Round of 16 against Jasmine Paolini in three sets, Eala’s performance propelled her to a career-best ranking of No. 28 in the WTA standings.
Looking ahead, Eala is set to transition to hard courts with an entry at the Mubadala Ouvrir dans Washington, DC, beginning July 27. She plans to continue her campaign by competing in WTA 1000 events in Toronto, aiming to build on her recent successes.
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