FILIPINO sensation Alexandra "Alex" Eala is set for a 2-notch rise to No. 42 in the official Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings on Monday.
Ranked No. 44 in the last rankings update on April 20, Eala climbed to No. 42 in the live rankings on Sunday after the completion of the WTA 1000 Madrid Open.
Eala posted a round of 64 finish in the tournament, matching her last year's finish to retain 35 ranking points for a total of 1,285.
The lefty netter fell to world No. 21 Elise Mertens of Belgium in the second round, 2-6, 1-6.
She defeated veteran and 12-time champ Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the first round, 6-3, 6-3.
Eala likewise competed in Madrid doubles tournament with Turkish partner Zeynep Sönmez.
The close friends dispatched the Taiwanese-Hungarian pair of Chan Hao-ching and Fanny Stollar in the first round, 6-2, 6-2.
Eala and Sönmez then fell to the elite Czech-American duo of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend in the round of 16 (second round), 1-6, 5-7.
Eala gained 120 ranking points for a total of 888, setting herself for a career-high doubles rank of No. 88, rising 13 spots from No. 101 two weeks ago.
Eala's previous high was No. 99.
Eala will next compete at another 1000 event in Italian Open set from May 5 to 17. NIEL VICTOR MASOY