By Romeo Braceros Jr.

Without playing any matches during the previous two weeks, Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala's position in the Women's Tennis Association rankings marginally declined.

Eala plummeted to No. 221 this week from a career-high of No. 214 at the beginning of the month as she continued to take a much-needed rest following back-to-back campaigns in the US and Europe.

Eala's most recent competition was at W100 Shrewsbury in the United Kingdom, where she struggled in the qualifying rounds.

The 17-year-old Filipina ranked in the top 200 earlier this month following a remarkable European campaign capped by a ground-breaking semifinal showing at the prestigious W80 Poitiers in France.

Eala, a graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy, has won two professional titles in Spain and Thailand and aims to win more after choosing to concentrate more on the women's circuit.

Eala won the US Open junior championships in her only junior competition this year, becoming the first Filipina to win a singles Grand Slam title and doubles titles at the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open.