Eala rises to new career-high No. 17

Manila Times - Nov 2, 2026

PHILIPPINE tennis pride Alex Eala rose to a new career-high rank of No. 17 entering the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open. In the latest official rankings on Monday, Eala climbed from No. 19 to 17 with 2,289 total points. Eala topped her previous career-best rank of No. 18 following a quarterfinal finish at the 500 Tokyo Open. Eala begins her Hong Kong campaign against world No. 59 Alycia Parks on Tuesday. Eala achieved the No. 18 rank on Aug. 24 following her third-round finish at the Cincinnati Open. Suffering upset losses coupled with other players climbing the ladder this Asian Swing, Eala eventually dropped to No. 20 on Oct. 19. Eala fell to world No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova (now No. 124) at the 500 Singapore Open second round on Sept. 24, and to No. 217 Shi Han (now 148) at the 1000 Wuhan Open on Oct. 12. The lefty netter regained her usual form at the just-concluded Tokyo Open, where she made a breakthrough quarterfinal appearance in the Asian Swing.

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LIONEL MESSI SENDS INTER MIAMI TO SECOND SPOT  

Nov 2, 2026

LIONEL MESSI SENDS INTER MIAMI TO SECOND SPOT  

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — Lionel Messi’s late strike catapulted Inter Miami above New England and into second place with a tense 2-1 comeback victory over their MLS Eastern Conference rivals Sunday (Monday in Manila). Messi’s typically crafty effort after scurrying through three defenders in the 83rd minute was enough to secure three points, with an own goal by his teammate Ian Fray four minutes later ruled out for a marginal offside. The 39-year-old Argentine superstar also provided an improvised assist off the back of his head for German Berterame, after Daniel Gazdag had put New England in front early in the second half. Victory sent Miami a point clear of the New England Revolution with one game left, meaning a win against Charlotte on Saturday will guarantee home advantage until the Conference Finals. It also secured Miami’s spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup. “It was such an important occasion ... they’re a very tough team — really difficult — so I think it was a tremendous effort,” said Berterame. After a goalless first half, New England’s Peyton Miller slipped down the right flank to the byline in the 53rd minute. His cut-back pass was backheeled by Ilay Feingold to Gazdag, who smashed the ball home. Miami came close to equalizing soon after the hour, as Berterame followed up on a Messi effort saved by Matt Turner, only to have his shot cleared off the line by Brooklyn Raines. In the 69th minute, Telasco Segovia flicked a ball high into the box toward Messi, who was racing forward between two defenders but somehow headed it blindly off the back of his head to Berterame, who scored. Messi got on the scoresheet himself in the 83rd minute, collecting the ball just outside the D, spinning and skipping past three tackles before wrapping his left foot around the ball and sending it low into the far corner past US national team goalkeeper Turner. New England thought they had been gifted an equalizer with three minutes remaining. Fray inexplicably headed a hopeful Luca Langoni cross into his own net despite no pressure, but the New England substitute was ruled offside on video review. The Eastern Conference’s final playoff berths were also determined Sunday. Columbus Crew and Orlando City both qualified after 10th-placed New York Red Bulls lost 3-2 to runaway leaders Nashville.