Pinay tennis player Alex Eala now 4th in ITF juniors’ world rankings

Young Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has risen to 4th in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) juniors' world tennis rankings after her stellar performance at the 2020 Australian Open.

The 14-year-old improved from 9th place to 4th in the world rankings after clinching the girls' doubles title with her Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho.

This is the highest Eala has been ranked so far, and is also the result of her reaching the 3rd round in the girls' singles.

According to Chino Trinidad's Wednesday report on "24 Oras," Eala is already back at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Spain to prepare for the French Open, which will begin in late May.

Coming from a family of athletes, Eala always seemed destined for sports. She  started playing tennis due to the influence of her brother Miko, who is also a tennis player.

Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, was a former national swimmer who won bronze at the 1985 Southeast Asian Games.

For Eala, her family will always be her inspiration.

"They've always had my back and no matter who comes in or comes out of my life, I know they'll always be there through thick and thin or through wins and losses," she said.

Eala dedicated her breakthrough grand slam win in the Australian Open to her grandfather Roberto Maniego, who died last November. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News