SEA Games glory returned to Philippine tennis after more than two decades as Alex Eala delivered a breakthrough victory that ended a long-standing drought in the women’s singles event. The 20-year-old tennis star captured the gold medal on Thursday, marking the country’s first SEA Games women’s singles tennis title in 26 years.
Eala’s triumph came after a commanding finals performance against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, where she won 6–1, 6–2 at the National Tennis Development Center. The victory made her the first Filipina to claim the women’s singles gold since Maricris Fernandez-Gentz achieved the feat in 1999, a milestone reached even before Eala was born.
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A Long-Awaited Breakthrough on the Regional Stage
The World No. 55 showed composure and control throughout the final, asserting her pace early and never allowing the home bet to settle into a rhythm. Eala’s gold was a significant step up from her previous SEA Games campaigns, where she settled for bronze medals in both the 2021 and 2023 editions.
Beyond the finals, Eala put together a dominant run in the tournament. She advanced past Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong in the quarterfinals with a 6–3, 6–1 win before dispatching Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo, 6–1, 6–4, in the semifinals. She also added two bronze medals to her haul, reaching the podium in the women’s team event and in mixed doubles alongside Francis Casey Alcantara.
Following the historic win, Eala reflected on what the moment meant to her and the country.
“I think the thing that really makes me cry the most is when they played Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem,” Eala said. “It feels like I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time, that I would be the one who could bring that kind of pride to the Philippines. So I’m very thankful and humbled to be able to represent our country.”
Momentum for Philippine Sports
Eala’s gold came amid a strong showing for Team Philippines at the SEA Games, highlighted by landmark wins across multiple sports, including the Filipinas’ first-ever football gold and dominant performances in softball and basketball. As of midweek, the Philippines ranked sixth overall in the medal standings with a 40–58–125 gold-silver-bronze tally.
Eala’s achievement goes beyond tennis; it represents perseverance paying off after years of near-misses and reinforces the belief that Filipino athletes can compete and win at the highest regional levels. Her victory not only revives interest in tennis back home but also inspires a new generation to dream bigger, showing that long waits can still end in gold for the country.
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