Eala breaking walls in Berlin

MANILA, Philippines — There’s no way to go but up for Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala – the newest breakout player in Berlin.

Eala soared into the Final Four of the WTA500 Berlin Tennis Open yesterday morning for a new feather on her cap but for her, the flight to greater heights is just beginning.

“I think I’m getting better and I hope I’m getting better,” beamed Eala after slaying another giant in world No. 8 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine with an equally-stunning 6-3, 6-4 quarterfinal win.

It came a day after she stunned world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. Overall, Eala has slain six Top-10 players in her career, including former world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland (now world No. 3) in the 2025 Miami Open quarterfinals.

“That sounds amazing. I can’t believe it. I’m in shock right now,” added Eala, who danced to the music of “Major Tom” and tipped her hat to the 31-year-old and new mother Svitolina.

“Elina is a huge fighter. I’ve seen it many times. I’ve been watching her since I was a kid, so facing her here is an honor. She’s a mother. I admire her, just elegance and strength. It’s a huge honor to share the court with her.”

Eala’s new exploits pushed her to No. 30 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) live rankings with a total of 135 points gained in three rounds so far to shore up her drive to notch a historic seeding at Wimbledon on June 29 to July 12 in London.

The next 20 players in the Top 50 are already out of Berlin or other Wimbledon side tournaments, including her Birmingham rival Nikola Bartunkova of Czechia (No. 46) who held the biggest chance in bumping her off after a 6-2, 6-7, 4-6 defeat to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Russia.

Should Eala hold steady at No. 30, she’s bound to become the first Filipina player in history to get a seed in a Grand Slam main draw after already etching a bevy of firsts for Philippine tennis.