Manila — Alex Eala delivered a landmark victory for Philippine tennis on Thursday, claiming the women’s singles gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games and ending a 26-year title drought for the country.
Competing at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Eala defeated Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets, 6–1, 6–2, to secure the Philippines’ first women’s singles tennis gold at the SEA Games since 1999.
Eala asserted control early, dominating the opening set with sharp baseline play and aggressive shot-making. The second set proved more testing, as the Filipina star voiced concerns over several line calls and Sawangkaew rallied to level the score at 2–2.
Maintaining composure, Eala responded with a decisive surge, winning four consecutive games to close out the match. In the final moments, tied at 30 in the eighth game, she delivered a powerful backhand winner before a miscue from her opponent sealed the historic win.
The victory capped a standout year for Eala in Philippine colors and was met with loud cheers from Filipino supporters in the stands, underscoring the significance of her achievement for the country’s tennis program.
