Eala cracks WTA Top 200

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala’s status in the women’s professional tennis circuit has reached new heights.

For the first time in her budding career, Eala barged inside the Top 200 of the Women’s Tennis Association rankings after a remarkable stint in back-to-back tournaments in Great Britain.

Eala, only 18 years old, jumped 22 places from No. 217 to No. 195 for her new career-high ranking following a championship and a runner-up finish in two straight W25 tournaments.

Her previous career-best ranking was No. 214 last year.

Eala reigned supreme in the W25 Roehampton in London earlier this month before falling just short with a runner-up finish in W25 Aldershot in Hampshire, England for a foiled back-to-back championship goal.

The lefty scholar from the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain beat No. 2 seed Arina Rodionova of Australia in the W25 Roehampton finals, 6-2, 6-3.

That’s the fourth title for Eala in a young international campaign also highlighted by two juniors doubles grand slams and the historic singles grand slam title in the US Open Juniors last year.

Eala came on the verge of following it up right away but she fell to Destanee Aiava of Australia, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, in the W25 Aldershot final.

She also made it to the W25 Roehampton doubles quarterfinals with Aiava and semifinals of the W25 Aldershot with Polish partner Urszula Radwanska.