Alex Eala hits biggest pro career win at Madrid Open over world no. 41

Alex Eala (PHOTO: Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP)

Dubbed as “the biggest match of her career,” Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala exhibited sheer resilience and skill as she secured a victory over world No. 41 Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.

The 18-year-old tennis prodigy overcame a set deficit in the initial set but swiftly bounced back in the subsequent two sets.

She battled through a gripping third set to emerge victorious with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on the courts of La Caja Magica in Madrid, Spain against the 34-year-old athlete.

The Rafa Nadal Academy paddler’s victory marked a milestone in her professional career, as it was her first time defeating a top 50 (active ranking) player in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event.

Securing a wildcard entry to the main draw for the second consecutive year, the Filipina sensation now sets her sights on the next challenge, as she prepares to face 27th seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the second round.

Should she emerge victorious against Cirstea, Eala faces the prospect of a looming third-round encounter against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, further fueling excitement and anticipation among fans following her stellar performance in the opening round.

Social media buzzed with congratulatory messages, with one Facebook user commenting, “With that win, her ranking will shoot a few places up. Congrats Alex, hope you win [a] few more rounds. Vamos.”

Recently, the young tennis ace has soared to a new all-time high in the world rankings, now standing at an impressive No. 169 as she climbed three places higher.

She also claimed a doubles title earlier this year at the ITF W50 Pune in India, alongside singles rival turned doubles partner Darja Semenistaja of Latvia.

For those unfamiliar, the Mutua Madrid Open, a WTA Masters 1000 event, stands as the pinnacle of women’s tennis competition, representing the third highest level of competition in the women’s pro tour.