Alex Eala joins star-studded lineup for BNP Paribas Open in California
Photo from alex.eala/Instagram
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala continues to rewrite her career story, achieving yet another milestone just days after celebrating a previous breakthrough in the WTA rankings.
Last week, Eala reached a career-best position of No. 45 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, already a significant step forward for the 20-year-old rising star.
After she battled past Belarus’ Allaksandra Sasnovich at the Abu Dhabi Open, she is now poised to rank in the top 40 – a new career-high in the WTA rankings and a major leap in what has been a standout stretch of results on the international circuit.
The ranking boost follows her strong showing at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open, where she advanced to the quarterfinals and proved her ability to compete against seasoned professionals in a WTA 500 event.
One of the tournament’s most memorable moments came when Eala battled back from a set down to defeat Sasnovich in a dramatic three-set encounter, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6 (5), at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The match tested both her physical endurance and mental toughness. Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Eala later shared a brief but heartfelt message on Instagram, “Survived this one, thanks guys:)”
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Speaking to media after the match, she also described the emotional intensity of the contest in Tagalog, saying, “Napasubok talaga yung tibay ng dibdib ko.”
BNP Paribas Open
With momentum on her side, Eala is now preparing for another major stage. She has been confirmed as part of the star-studded field for the BNP Paribas Open, scheduled from March 4 to 15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Southern California.
The prestigious outdoor WTA 1000 tournament, played on hard courts, is widely regarded as one of the most competitive events outside the Grand Slams.
The entry list highlights the level of competition awaiting her. Among those set to compete are defending champion Mirra Andreeva, 2023 winner Elena Rybakina, who is also coming off a title run at the Australian Open, and World No. 5 Coco Gauff. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is also slated to make her debut at the event.
