Alex Eala’s world ranking went down two notches after her stint in the Australian Open last week.
From a career-high 185th in the world, the 18-year-old Eala has slightly gone down to 187 after falling to former world No. 43 Rebecca Peterson of Sweden, 2-6, 5-7, in the opening round of the Australian Open qualifiers.
Eala’s chances of making it to the Paris Olympics are dim at this point.
This is because, only the top 56 players in the world rankings on June 10, 2024 of the Women’s Tennis Association and the Association of Tennis Professional tours will qualify for the Olympics.
Eala is coming off a campaign in the $164,000 WTA Workday Canberra International also in Australia.
She made the semifinals of the doubles’ event by teaming up with Tokyo Olympics’ bronze medalist Laura Pigossi of Brazil.
But the two were eliminated in the opening round of the singles’ qualifiers.
Eala will be feted during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night as the country’s Ms. Tennis after a hectic year that saw the Filipina netter establishing herself as an emerging force in the sport by winning two ITF Circuit titles and barging in the Top 200 rankings in the world.
At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Eala ended a 61-year medal drought for Philippine tennis by winning the bronze in the women’s single event, and then teamed up with Francis Casey Alcantara for a podium finish in the mixed doubles.