A Fan Favorite
Angling for a closer look, some peered through fencing on adjacent courts, eager to see the rising talent up close. Others settled into seats on a neighboring court, watching intently as Eala unleashed her thunderous signature forehand.
Eala, the first Filipina to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam at last year’s US Open, is also the highest-ranked player in her nation’s history. She cracked the Top 100 last year following a breakout run to the Miami Open semifinals, earning high-profile victories over No. 2-ranked Iga Swiatek and No. 5-ranked Madison Keys along the way.
Her next stop was the Top 50, a massive milestone achieved in November of last year.
She has started 2026 on a mission, reaching three quarterfinals in the first two months of the season — matching her total from all of last year.