The next Alex Eala could already be here as three exciting youngsters plot same WTA path

Alex Eala's phenomenal rise up the WTA rankings in 2026 has presented an opportunity for other youngsters to follow in her footsteps next year.

Eala finished the 2025 season ranked as the world's number 50 in singles, and has since risen as high as 18th in the live WTA rankings after enjoying an incredible year on the court.

The 21-year-old watched her popularity skyrocket after winning her first WTA singles title at the Washington Open in August, while earning seven wins against top-10 opponents and claiming a bronze medal for the Philippines at the Asian Games.

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Currently, the Filipina is playing at the Ningbo Open on the latest leg of the Asian Swing and faces Diana Schnaider in the last 16 on Thursday (October 22). A second tournament win this year would be the icing on the cake for Eala, who will have inspired several of her rivals to complete a similar rise.

Here, SPORTbible looks at three players - aged 19 and under - who can fly up the WTA rankings in 2027.

Kristina Liutova

Kristina Liutova is poised for an incredible breakout year in 2027 following an exceptional ascent on the WTA Tour.

At just 16 years old, the Russian has already shattered records and risen from a world ranking of 714 to a career-high No. 110 in the latter stages of 2026.

Liutova proved she belonged on the main circuit after winning the WTA 250 Memphis Classic in her WTA main-draw debut in August. In doing so, she became the first player born in the 2010s to win a WTA title and the youngest champion on the tour since Coco Gauff won Linz in 2019.

Having trained at the Gorin Tennis Academy since 2020, her raw striking talent caught the eye of former ATP professional Dmitry Tursunov, who coached Aryna Sabalenka to the top of the world rankings.

Meanwhile, it was her first appearance at a Grand Slam, the US Open in August, that generated even more excitement over her talent after she successfully fought through three grueling rounds of qualifying before pushing former world No.4 Qinwen Zheng to three sets in her first-round defeat.

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Lilli Tagger

Liutova isn't the only player looking to skyrocket even higher up the WTA rankings in 2027, as Lilli Tagger has positioned herself as one of the prime candidates for a huge breakout next year.

In a similar position to where Eala was at the end of 2025 - currently ranked at world No. 45 - Tagger has arguably shown even more promise than the Filipina.

Still only 18 years old, the Austrian captured her maiden WTA Tour title at the Prague Open in July, becoming the first player born in 2008 or later to win a tour-level trophy.

Combining her punishing serve with heavy groundstrokes and her unique one-handed backhand, Tagger's qualities have already seen her secure some huge scalps.

On her way to winning the Prague Open, she defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova and then clinched her first main-draw win at the US Open, beating Tamara Korpatsch 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) before losing to Amanda Anisimova in three sets.

Tagger can use these experiences as a platform to challenge for more titles in 2027, and perhaps even rise as high as Eala in the WTA rankings.

Tereza Valentova

Tereza Valentova's rapid rise into the WTA Tour has been blighted by injuries, with a recurring hip stress fracture holding her back in 2026.

But the 19-year-old, who rose as high as No. 42 in the world in May, will be determined to surpass that ranking and push towards the world's top 20 in 2027.

The current world No. 88 has already shown that she's a fierce competitor against some of the toughest players in the sport, once pushing No. 3 Elina Svitolina to a brutal three-set match in Cincinnati and reaching the semi-finals of the Prague Open.

The teenager returned from injury at the Japan Women's Open and was beaten by Tagger in straight sets in their last 16 clash on Wednesday (October 21), but that won't derail her confidence after being sidelined for almost two months.

Crucially, Valentova has no significant ranking points to defend from the most recent Grand Slams due to her injury lay-off, meaning she has a clear path to skyrocket up the WTA rankings in 2027.