By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Filipina tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala climbed to a new career-high ranking after moving up to No. 29 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) standings released yesterday.

The 20-year-old Negros Occidental’s Victorias City native improved three spots from her previous No. 32 ranking, surpassing her earlier career-best mark of No. 31 set last February.

Eala’s rise came after a strong campaign at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where she reached the Round of 16.

Her run in the WTA 1000 tournament earned her 120 ranking points, raising her total to 1,542.

However, the net gain reflected in the rankings was 110 points after points she earned during the same period last year dropped off and were replaced by her latest result.

Fresh off the ranking milestone, Eala now turns her focus to the WTA 1000 Miami Open scheduled from March 17 to 29, where she could potentially face World’s No. 3 Iga Swiatek of Poland for the third time in her career.

Seeded 31st in the tournament, Eala received a first-round bye and will open her campaign in the Round of 64 against the winner of the match between Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Croatia’s Petra Marcinko.

If both advance, Eala could meet second seed Swiatek in the Round of 32.

The Polish star will begin her tournament against either compatriot Magda Linette or Varvara Gracheva.

Eala and Swiatek had split their previous two meetings.

The Filipina pulled off a stunning upset over the then World’s No. 2 in the quarterfinals of last year’s Miami Open, winning 6-2, 7-5 while ranked 140th in the world.

Swiatek later evened the score a month later at the Madrid Open, rallying for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory in the Round of 64./ASC, WDJ