Alexandra Eala of the Philippines acknowledges the crowd after losing to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during day eight of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 09, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman, Getty Images/AFP
MANILA — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala has risen to No. 18 in the WTA Rankings ahead of the last Grand Slam of the year.
This is the 21-year-old Eala's highest-ever ranking, coming at the heels of her breakthrough WTA Tour title in Washington DC.
READ: Filipinos turn Alex Eala's second serve into viral meme
The top four remain unchanged, with Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff topping the rankings. Mirra Andreeva rose one place to round out the top five.
Eala will return to action in the US Open, starting in the mixed doubles where she will team up with Canadian world No. 4 Félix Auger-Aliassime. They will face the husband-and-wife tandem of Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils in the first round.
Auger-Aliassime is coming off a run to the quarterfinals of both Wimbledon and the French Open, in the process becoming the first Canadian man to reach the last eight at all four Grand Slams.
He has won nine ATP Tour singles titles and reached the US Open semifinals in both 2021 and 2025.
READ: Auger-Aliassime thrilled to pair with Eala in US Open mixed doubles
Across the net will be one of tennis' most beloved couples: Svitolina and Monfils.
Monfils, 39, is a former world No. 6 who has won 13 ATP singles titles. This is his last year as a professional. Meanwhile, former world No. 3 Svitolina has won 20 WTA singles titles and was the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year by the WTA.
— with a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News
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