Alex Eala wins first PH women's singles SEA Games gold in 26 years

Alex Eala made history on Thursday, securing the Philippines’ first SEA Games women’s singles gold in 26 years.

The 20-year-old tennis star delivered a 6-1, 6-2 victory over world No. 240 Mananchaya Sawangkaew at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

With this win, Eala joins the ranks of Maricris Fernandez and Pia Tamayo—who won in 1999 and 1981, respectively—as the only Filipinas to claim the singles medal.

After the match, Eala shared how honored she felt to bring the gold back to the Philippines.

"I think yan yun talagang nakakaiyak sakin is when they play Lupang Hinirang or any national athem. And parang matagal ko nang pinapangarap 'yun na ako 'yung makakadala ng ganoong pride sa Pilipinas. I'm so grateful, I'm so humbled to be able to represent our country," she said.

The Filipina athlete also shared that the win was a big thing for her and her parents.

"It's so special. I've said many times before, 'yung Pinoy we're so family-oriented, I think that's a part of our culture and you know, SEA Games is something... I think it's very different than the Tour because it's very personal to us, personal to the Southeast Asian countries, and it's special in that way, it's unique, and it doesn't happen every time," she said, adding that her mom Rizza was also a medalist.

This victory marks Eala's sixth career SEA Games medal, adding to the two bronzes she earned in the women’s team and mixed doubles events in this 33rd edition of the games.

Earlier this week, Eala said that she was "happy" with the first round of her match with Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong in their quarterfinal match, wherein she won bronze.

“I’m very happy with the first round, it presented good challenges and I’m happy with how, wala, masaya ako sa crowd, madaming nanood. Maraming salamat sa supporta,” she told the Philippine Olympic Committee.