Alexandra Eala, at eighteen, was ranked 170th in the world twelve months ago.
Filipina wildcard stunned world No. 41 Lesia Tsurenko for her first WTA 1000 main draw win, then lost in three sets to No. 30 Sorana Cirstea in the second round.
Ealareturns to Spanish clay this week, but her situation is very different from a year ago. After a breakthrough performance at the WTA 1000 in Miami last month, the former US Open junior winner has risen to a career-high ranking of 72.
The gifted left-hander became the first Filipina in history to get to the round of four in a WTA tour-level competition after defeating three grand slam champions, including five-time major winner Iga Swiatek, on her way to the semifinals.
Her remarkable accomplishment garnered international attention, and her stardom in the Philippines is still growing rapidly.
Realizing how important it is to move on was the main focus after Miami. Eala is well aware that she cannot rely solely on one successful outcome in a sport that tests its players every week, as the tennis tour is an endless and relentless traveling circus.
Because of how quickly the WTA circuit moves along, Eala will play Swiatek again in Madrid on Thursday, only four weeks after their quarterfinal encounter in Miami.
Former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu was among the many individuals who contacted Eala since Miami to offer her congratulations and to let her know that she was always welcome.
Andreescu, who was Eala's age when she won the US Open and burst into the limelight, says she wants the WTA Tour to seem like a friendly environment for young players who are succeeding.
Andreescu's approach to her moved Eala, who expressed how much it meant to her.
After Miami, Eala talked about what she had recently done with her family a lot, saying it helped her process all that was going on.
After all these discussions, the conclusion was straightforward.
They are certainly major competitions; in fact, retired boxing great and Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao saw Eala's run there and congratulated her on social media.
It makes Eala laugh to think that Pacquiao ever recognized her, much less paid attention to her performance.
In the last year, Eala believes she has developed both as a player and as a person, pointing out that experience is crucial for a young lady in her teens.
At the age of 13, Eala moved to Mallorca, Spain, to study and practice at the Rafa Nadal Academy. Since then, she has traveled abroad for competitions.
Many youngsters succeed early in sports like tennis, making it hard to maintain youth. Balancing team leadership, millions, sponsors, fame, and competition can overshadow being a teenager.
In order to prevent burnout and homesickness, tennis players are always looking for methods to maintain a connection to their home during the more than ten-month tennis season.
Having her family at her side while traveling has been essential for Eala.